North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi reportedly resigns in wake of internal investigation

Michael Lombardi has resigned at North Carolina.

The team's general manager had been on leave as the result of an internal investigation. Thursday, ESPN reported that the former NFL front office executive had stepped down from his position

Lombardi came to North Carolina with Bill Belichick when the former New England Patriots coach was hired after the 2024 season. Lombardi famously said that North Carolina would consider itself a 33rd NFL franchise, but the program struggled in 2025 and went 4-8.

Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave in late July after an ex-UNC employee reportedly filed an HR complaint.

His resignation comes less than a week after his attorney told the Athletic that the investigation was a "witch hunt."

"If UNC had grounds to fire Michael for cause, they wouldn't need to conduct such a far-ranging, lengthy witch hunt. They would have done so by now," attorney Tom Mars said. "I think the motive behind the investigation goes further than a $1.5 million buyout. After all, UNC could fire Michael (or the athletic director or any head coach) for no reason at all just by paying their buyout. In today's world, $1.5 million is just a drop in the bucket, so there must be other reasons behind this multimillion-dollar investigation."

Lombardi's salary of $1.5 million made him the highest-paid GM in college football.