North Carolina DC Stephen Belichick focus of ongoing investigation into football program, per report
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
North Carolina defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick, who has been on medical leave since August, is now in the spotlight as part of an ongoing investigation into the Tar Heels football program, according to a report from WRAL-TV.
The report was released not long after Michael Lombardi resigned as general manager after being on administrative leave since July.
Belichick was hired to North Carolina‘s staff after his father, Bill Belichick, was named head coach ahead of the 2025 season. The younger Belichick had previously served as defensive coordinator at Washington for one season and, before that, was on his father’s New England Patriots staff for over a decade.
But before the 2026 season began, he was suddenly placed on medical leave. The program has not provided details on the specifics of the decision.
Like our coverage? Make SDS a preferred source in your searches!
It was the latest in a series of issues surrounding the program since Bill Belichick’s arrival. On the field, his tenure in Chapel Hill began with a blowout loss to TCU and never really got better from there as the Tar Heels slumped to a 4-8 record.
However, in a rematch in Dublin on Saturday, the Heels got the better of the Horned Frogs, 15-10.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
