Michael Lombardi, the general manager for North Carolina football, has been put on paid administrative leave. This news comes ahead of the Tar Heels’ preseason camp. The university released a statement on Monday morning but didn’t disclose reasons for the decision, citing standard procedure regarding personnel matters. This procedure prevents staff and athletes from commenting on the situation.

Lombardi joined the team alongside Bill Belichick, marking a transition from NFL to college football when he was hired by the university in December 2024. Lombardi’s history with the NFL includes serving as the general manager for the Cleveland Browns in 2013. His move to North Carolina was directly after he was hired by Belichick, the renowned coach with six Super Bowl titles, to join the program in Chapel Hill.

The university brought in Belichick to revitalise a football team that frequently ranked among the less prominent teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Despite occasional surges to national attention, the team had struggles maintaining that level of success. Shortly after Belichick’s arrival, Lombardi expressed ambition for the team, stating their goal was to operate similarly to an NFL franchise. He mentioned, “We consider ourselves the 33rd (NFL) team,” underlining strong ties with professional football through the staff.

During Belichick’s inaugural season, the Tar Heels finished with a 4-8 record. Their upcoming game against TCU will take place in Dublin, Ireland, on August 29.