UNC General Manager Mike Lombardi Placed on Paid Administrative Leave
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has put football general manager Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave pending a human-resources investigation.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Monday that Mike Lombardi, the general manager of its football program, has been placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately. The university said the action follows a human-resources complaint filed by a former front-office employee and that a standard investigation is under way. It added that staff, leadership and student-athletes are prohibited from commenting on the matter and that the leave does not reflect on Lombardi’s performance.
Lombardi, who joined UNC in 2024, previously worked with head coach Bill Belichick during Belichick’s tenure with the Cleveland Browns and later with the New England Patriots. His résumé includes stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos and a second period with the Browns. Before returning to coaching, Lombardi contributed columns to NFL.com, appeared on television and co-hosted podcasts.
In his first season at UNC, the football team finished with a 4-8 record. Lombardi was reported as the highest-paid college football general manager in 2025, earning $1.5 million.