The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave effective immediately. The school announced the decision on Monday.
Lombardi serves as general manager for the Carolina football program. He is a longtime associate of head coach Bill Belichick. The university hired Lombardi in December 2024 after Belichick took over as coach of the Tar Heels.
In a statement, UNC vice chancellor Dean Stoyer said the move follows standard procedure for personnel matters. Leadership, staff and student athletes are prohibited from addressing the topic further. The statement noted that the action has no reflection on the merits of any situation.
The school provided no additional details about the reason for the leave or its expected length. No interim general manager was named in the announcement.
Lombardi previously worked as an NFL executive. He contributed to teams that won three Super Bowl titles during his career. He joined the UNC staff on a three year contract.
The Tar Heels prepare for the 2026 season. Training camp is scheduled to begin later this week. Belichick remains the head coach of the program.
The administrative leave applies only to Lombardi at this time. The university stated it will not comment further on the personnel matter.