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North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi could learn his fate with the program before the start of the 2026 season.
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UNC athletic director Steve Newmark said no hard timeline was in place for the Office of University Counsel to complete the investigation reportedly launched due to allegations stemming from a human resources complaint against Lombardi. UNC placed Lombardi on paid administrative leave on Monday and head coach Bill Belichick said on Thursday the move required staff adjustments to account for the GMs duties while he’s away.
“From our perspective, and I think there’s a recognition across the board, that the university counsel’s office is going to have this go as quickly as possible,” Newmark said Thursday. “But I think it’s also important they do it the right way and they gather all the information they need.”
The Tar Heels went 4-8 in Belichick’s first season in Chapel Hill. They are scheduled to open their second season under the legendary coach on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
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When asked about Lombardi’s status for the season, Belichick said Thursday the program is “working through some things.”
“We’re at a particular time of the year now where there are certain things that are in play, and certain things that are in play that will happen later in the calendar year,” he said. “So we’re taking it day to day and work through the things that are on the table right now.”
Lombardi, 67, joined Belichick in Chapel Hill in December 2024. He previously worked with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach in New England, serving as an assistant to the coaching staff from 2014-16.
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–Field Level Media
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This story was originally published July 30, 2026 at 8:31 AM.