Michael Lombardi, a longtime NFL executive, has stepped down from his role as general manager of the University of North Carolina's football program, the university announced on Thursday.
Lombardi's decision comes more than a month after he was placed on paid administrative leave amid an internal investigation. The university's Office of University Counsel launched the probe, but the nature of the allegations is not publicly known. UNC officials have declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation, citing confidentiality.
Lombardi had been general manager of the program since 2025 and was widely regarded as one of the trusted advisors to head coach Bill Belichick. His resignation is effective September 3, 2026. Belichick has been working through the process of addressing the issues that led to Lombardi's leave, but has not commented further on the situation.
The internal investigation will continue, and the university will consider any necessary corrective actions based on the findings. Lombardi had been earning an annual salary of $1.5 million, making him the highest-paid football operations executive in college football.
The Tar Heels, under Belichick's leadership, have shown signs of improvement, including a recent upset victory over TCU in Ireland.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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