North Carolina Football GM Placed on Paid Leave

North Carolina football's general manager, Michael Lombardi, was placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately on Monday, July 27. The university confirmed the decision, with a spokesperson stating that staff and players are prohibited from commenting on the personnel matter. Lombardi joined UNC ahead of the 2025 season, hired as the highest-paid general manager in college football with a $1.5 million annual salary. He previously worked with head coach Bill Belichick in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. Lombardi, known for his extensive NFL front office experience, had expressed ambitions for UNC football to operate like a professional team, referring to the Tar Heels as the "33rd NFL team." The team finished the 2025 season with a 4-8 record and had no players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Earlier in 2026, Lombardi garnered attention for traveling to Saudi Arabia to explore investment interest from the nation's Public Investment Fund for the UNC football program. The Tar Heels are scheduled to begin their 2026 training camp on Thursday, July 30, with their season opener against TCU on August 29 in Dublin, Ireland.