UNC's Michael Lombardi resigns as investigation reportedly includes questions about Steve Belichick

Michael Lombardi is out at North Carolina amid the school's internal investigation.

The football program's general manager had been on paid leave as a result of that investigation. The school announced Lombardi's resignation Thursday afternoon and said the investigation continued. Lombardi came to North Carolina when the school hired former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick after the 2024 season.

"Effective September 3, 2026, Michael Lombardi has resigned from his position as General Manager of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's football program," the school's statement said. "The University will continue its ongoing investigation and will consider all appropriate corrective actions responsive to the information it learns."

According to a report from WRAL that was released shortly after Lombardi's resignation became public, there are multiple facets to the inquiry. One of the topics includes questions surrounding potential alleged drug use by North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, Bill's son.

Steve Belichick is currently on medical leave for undisclosed reasons. He also came to North Carolina when his father was hired. From WRAL:

Lawyers hired to conduct the investigation are also questioning people about whether defensive coordinator Steve Belichick used drugs on the job or provided drugs to at least one player — and, separately, about whether a member of UNC's recruiting staff had a sexual relationship with a player, people familiar with the investigation told WRAL. They also asked about possible sexual relationships between assistant coaches and recruiting staff, the people said.

The investigation also reportedly encompasses questions about accusations involving a sexual relationship between a recruiting staffer and "at least one" North Carolina player along with "similar possible relationships" between recruiting staff and assistant coaches.

In a statement through attorney Tom Mars to WRAL after his resignation, Lombardi said that he resigned so that the team could focus on the season. His resignation came less than a week after Mars said that North Carolina's 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 general manager in college football. He was in the second season of a three-year deal.

He first worked with Belichick when the two were with the Cleveland Browns in the late 1980s and then worked with Belichick again in New England. The 67-year-old was an "assistant to the coaching staff" from 2014 through 2016 before working in media ahead of Belichick's hire at North Carolina.

Steve Belichick also previously worked for his father before coming to North Carolina. The 39-year-old was an assistant with the Patriots from 2012 through 2023 and spent the 2024 season as Washington's defensive coordinator. After a season with the Huskies, he came to Chapel Hill to run UNC's defense.

According to WRAL's report, people are being asked if they had seen or knew of anyone who had seen Steve Belichick use drugs at North Carolina's facilities.

The wide-ranging investigation is the latest — and biggest — issue for a North Carolina program that has dealt with numerous headlines that have nothing to do with the team's play on the field.

Bill Belichick's relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson has drawn a lot of attention, especially after the way the two refused to address questions about the beginning of their relationship in a CBS interview last year. After the interview, Belichick said that Hudson, who also operates as a personal public relations manager for the coach, was simply "doing her job" to keep the interview on topic.

In the middle of last season, assistant coach Armond Hawkins was suspended after he allegedly provided extra sideline passes to a player's family.

And at the beginning of his tenure, Lombardi said that he wanted to consider North Carolina the 33rd team of the NFL. The Tar Heels were overmatched all season and went 4-8.

The 2026 season has started better on the field, however. The Tar Heels got a 15-10 victory over TCU in Dublin in Week 0. The game was a rematch from the teams' season-opener a year ago, where TCU drubbed the Tar Heels after much fanfare for Belichick's first home game at North Carolina.

UNC is off in Week 1 ahead of a game against East Tennessee State in Week 2.