North Carolina places general manager Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave - Yahoo Sports

What the report says

Yahoo Sports reported that the University of North Carolina has put Mike Lombardi, the general manager of its football program, on paid administrative leave. The move was announced Monday and took effect immediately, according to the school. UNC did not give a detailed reason, describing the matter as a personnel issue and saying team personnel and student-athletes are not permitted to discuss it further.

The report cited ESPN’s Pete Thamel as saying a former UNC front-office employee filed a human resources complaint and that an investigation is pending. Yahoo also noted reporting from journalist Pablo Torre that the UNC football program is being examined by the College Sports Commission, which Torre described as handling enforcement and compliance matters involving NCAA and NIL rules. The article did not say whether the two matters are connected.

Lombardi is a longtime football executive and media figure closely associated with UNC head coach Bill Belichick. Their working relationship dates to Belichick’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns, where Lombardi rose into a player-personnel role. Lombardi later worked for several NFL teams, including the Eagles, Raiders, Broncos, Browns and Patriots, where he again served under Belichick.

Lombardi joined North Carolina in 2024 after Belichick moved into college football. Yahoo reported that in 2025 he was the highest-paid general manager in college football, with a $1.5 million salary. UNC went 4-8 in Lombardi’s first season as general manager, making the leave a notable development for a program already drawing attention because of Belichick’s arrival and the evolving role of front-office operations in college sports.