UNC announced Monday morning it has placed Michael Lombardi, general manager for the Tar Heel football program, on paid administrative leave. The change is effective immediately.

As of July 27, the university has not provided the reason behind taking this action.

“As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits,” read a release from Dean Stoyer, vice chancellor for communications and marketing.

Lombardi, whose current annual salary is $1.5 million, joined the program with head coach Bill Belichick in December 2024. The UNC job was his first in football in nearly a decade, as he had last served as an assistant to the coaching staff with Belichick’s New England Patriots in the NFL from 2014 to 2016. Lombardi is a longtime friend and associate of Belichick’s; the pair had also worked together with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 through 1995 when Belichick was head coach.

During the 2025 season, Lombardi often sat in for Belichick on what is normally the UNC coach’s radio show Monday nights. He also regularly called in to 97.9 The Hill Monday mornings to provide updates on the team. Lombardi’s son, Matt, is UNC’s quarterbacks coach.

Lombardi had not officially addressed the media since Dec. 3, 2025, when he previewed UNC’s National Signing Day class along with Belichick. No announcement has been made as to who will fill in as interim general manager in his absence.

UNC opens its fall training camp Thursday, July 30. The Tar Heels’ opening game against TCU in Dublin kicks off Saturday, Aug. 29.

 

Featured image via AP Photo/Aaron Beard

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