Michael Lombardi has resigned from his position with the University of North Carolina’s football program. This decision comes following an ongoing internal investigation that resulted in him being placed on administrative leave over a month ago.
The university confirmed that Lombardi stepped down on Thursday. Despite his resignation, the investigation by UNC’s Office of University Counsel will continue. Lombardi joined the program in 2025 and was known for being a close advisor to head coach Bill Belichick.
“Effective September 3, 2026, Michael Lombardi has resigned from his position as General Manager of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s football program,” a press release from UNC stated. “The University will continue its ongoing investigation and will consider all appropriate corrective actions responsive to the information it learns.”
The investigation became public in late July. The university has not disclosed details about the allegations, citing privacy concerns.
Lombardi, who took the role of general manager, became college football’s highest-paid operations executive with an annual salary of $1.5 million. He was among Belichick’s first hires after taking over at UNC.
In response to Lombardi’s administrative leave, Belichick stated, “We’re working through some things.” He highlighted that the team was focused on the current preseason camp, adjusting as needed based on the situation.
Belichick’s time at UNC began with a challenging season, ending with a 4-8 record. However, the second season started positively, including a notable win against TCU.
Reporter Chantz Martin contributed to this story for Fox News Digital.