UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi resigns amid internal probe

Michael Lombardi resigned from his role as UNC football general manager after a university-led investigation into a complaint filed by a former front-office employee. He had been on paid leave since late July while the school looked into accusations that he bullied staff, ignored compliance rules, and closely monitored employee activities. Lombardi arrived in Chapel Hill with head coach Bill Belichick before the previous season, bringing experience from NFL teams such as the Browns, Patriots, 49ers, Eagles, Raiders and Broncos.

His lawyer, Tom Mars, criticized the probe as a "witch hunt" and implied that financial considerations alone could not explain the extensive inquiry. UNC's football program struggled in its first year under Belichick, finishing 4-8, but began the 2026 season with a 15-10 upset of TCU. Lombardi was the highest-paid NCAA general manager, earning $1.5 million annually.