Michael Lombardi, the general manager of North Carolina football, is now on paid administrative leave. This announcement came from the school on Monday morning, coinciding with the lead-up to the Tar Heels’ preseason camp. The school has not disclosed the reasons behind the decision, citing standard procedures that prevent employees and athletes from discussing personnel matters.
Lombardi transitioned from the NFL to college football when the school brought him onboard in December 2024. He previously worked with Bill Belichick, having served as an executive in the NFL, including a role as the general manager of the Cleveland Browns in 2013. His hiring by the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach aimed to benefit the Tar Heels’ program.
The school recruited Belichick to invigorate a football program that struggled to maintain a prominent position in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Occasionally, the team had risen to national significance without sustaining it. A few months into Belichick’s leadership, Lombardi noted the objective of operating the college team with NFL-like standards. He remarked that the Tar Heels considered themselves akin to the 33rd NFL team, leveraging their professional football connections.
Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels concluded with a 4-8 record. The team is set to begin his second season against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on August 29.