North Carolina places football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave, according to multiple reports. The decision arrives weeks before Bill Belichick enters his second season as North Carolina’s head coach. Lombardi serves in Chapel Hill as the executive responsible for roster management and has worked closely with Belichick, joining him after the pair made the move from the NFL to college football.
Several outlets describe the situation as an internal personnel matter being reviewed by the university. One report says the move is tied to a human resources complaint that is under investigation, though specific allegations are not detailed in the summaries provided.
Lombardi joined North Carolina in December 2024 as part of Belichick’s offseason staff additions. He is described as one of college football’s highest-paid general managers, with an annual salary figure of about $1.5 million cited by Yahoo Sports. The reports also note that the placement takes effect ahead of the program’s fall preparation period, meaning Belichick will operate without Lombardi during that stretch as the university carries out its review.
