North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi placed on administrative leave

UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi placed on administrative leave

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 27, 2026 11:08 AM ET

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick will be without one of his closest confidants when his team begins fall camp on Thursday.

On Monday, the school confirmed it has placed general manager Michael Lombardi on administrative leave. North Carolina refused to reveal any details regarding the decision. Players, coaches and other staff members have also been told to refrain from commenting on the matter.

North Carolina releases statement after Michael Lombardi move

"The University of North Carolina has placed Michael Lombardi, the general manager for the Carolina football program, on paid administrative leave, effective immediately," the school said (h/t On3's Pete Nakos and Steve Samra). "As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and have no reflection on the merits."

After the school shared the statement, ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reported that this ties to a human resources complaint filed by a former North Carolina front office employee; an investigation is ongoing.

NEW: North Carolina has placed football GM Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave, the school announced. https://t.co/t6qfuPx8Fp pic.twitter.com/tiFU1lnxJ9
— On3 (@On3) July 27, 2026

Per a source, this stems from an human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee. There’s a pending investigation, which led to the administrative leave. https://t.co/QVu4invBMa
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 27, 2026

Who is Michael Lombardi, and what did his role as North Carolina GM entail?

Lombardi spent over 30 years in the NFL as a scout and front office member for multiple teams, most notably the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots. He befriended Belichick after the Browns hired him as HC before the 1991 season. They then reunited in New England before the 2014 season when Belichick hired Lombardi as an assistant to the coaching staff.

Lombardi would spend three seasons in that role before accepting an analyst position with The Ringer and dabbling in other media projects. During Lombardi's time in New England, Belichick won two of his six Super Bowls.

Lombardi's relationship with Belichick, which has spanned more than 30 years, helped land him the job at North Carolina. Belichick brought him on his staff shortly after the Tar Heels named him HC in December 2024. Lombardi was reportedly "essential" in the Tar Heels' landing of Belichick.

As GM, Lombardi handled NIL (name, image, and likeness) funding and served as a spokesperson for the program, often appearing on "The Pat McAfee Show." He reportedly made $1.51M in 2025, making him the highest-paid GM in college football.

Lombardi drew criticism throughout his tenure. Before the 2025 season, he said he wanted North Carolina to be the "33rd NFL team." That take looked even more foolish after the Tar Heels went 4-8 in their first season under Belichick.

The Lombardi story will remain a big headline surrounding the program as it prepares for its season opener at home against the TCU Horned Frogs on Aug. 29 (ESPN, noon ET).

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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