North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi placed on administrative leave
By Andrew Olson
Published:
North Carolina announced Monday that Michael Lombardi, the football team’s general manager, has been placed on administrative leave.
University leadership released a statement on Monday with the announcement. The move was not announced via Carolina Athletics or the Tar Heel football team.
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has placed Michael Lombardi, general manager for the Carolina football program, on paid administrative leave, effective immediately,” the statement reads.
“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.”
Maybe noteworthy, the email/release on Michael Lombardi's "paid administrative leave" came from UNC Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Dean Stoyer, not UNC football or UNC athletics. It came from the school. https://t.co/QOniJkd54t
— Ross Martin (@RossMartinNC) July 27, 2026
Lombardi, who turned 67 in June, has a multi-decade career working in football. He got his start as recruiting coordinator at UNLV in 1981, but spent most of his career in the NFL as a personnel staffer, including as Cleveland Browns general manager in 2013.
When Bill Belichick took the UNC head coaching job in December 2024, Lombardi joined the staff as general manager. Lombardi had previously worked alongside Belichick with the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) and New England Patriots (2014-16).
North Carolina begins the 2026 season on Aug. 29 against TCU in Ireland. The Tar Heels are coming off a 4-8 season in Year 1 under Belichick.
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Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.
