UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi placed on paid administrative leave
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has put football program general manager Michael Lombari on paid administrative leave, citing standard personnel procedures without providing a reason.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday that Michael Lombardi, the general manager of its football program, has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. The university’s vice chancellor, Dean Stoyer, said the decision follows standard personnel procedures and that staff, leadership and student-athletes are prohibited from discussing the matter further, adding that the action does not reflect on Lombardi’s merits.
Lombardi, who earned a salary of $1.5 million for 2025 according to a UNC system employee database, has a long career in professional football, including early hires by head coach Bill Belichick at NFL teams in Cleveland and New England, and front-office roles with San Francisco, Philadelphia, Oakland and Denver. His only prior college experience was as recruiting coordinator at UNLV in the early 1980s. His son, Matt Lombardi, serves as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
University officials have not disclosed the reason for the leave, and Lombardi did not respond to requests for comment. UNC plans to hold its second fall practice under Belichick on Thursday, with the coach expected to be available for media inquiries after the session.