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UNC Football GM Michael Lombardi Placed on Paid Leave

7/27/2026

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Summary

Lombardi Placed on Leave

UNC placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave effective immediately.
The university said the action does not reflect on his merits and barred comments.
ESPN reported the leave follows a human-resources complaint from a former UNC front-office employee.
Lombardi, hired in December 2024 at $1.5 million per year, is under contract through Jan. 15 2028.

Summary

Lombardi SplashHire

The UNC board of trustees called the Belichick-Lombardi appointments a “splash hire” intended to professionalize the football program.
Lombardi billed UNC as the program’s “33rd NFL team,” a claim that drew criticism.
He has touted three Super Bowl rings despite his only title being the Patriots’ 2014 championship.
After the Dublin opener, UNC’s schedule includes a bye, East Tennessee State, Clemson, another bye, then Notre Dame at home.

History

Historical Context

In 2000 Texas Tech hired Mike Leach, giving him a five-year, $12.7 million extension after his 2008 11-win season that lifted the program’s national profile and TV revenue. The move set a precedent for big-pay hires, a model UNC echoed in 2024 by placing former NFL GM Michael Lombardi on paid leave after a $1.5 million-per-year contract.

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Lombardi Placed on Leave

UNC placed football general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave effective immediately.
The university said the action does not reflect on his merits and barred comments.
ESPN reported the leave follows a human-resources complaint from a former UNC front-office employee.
Lombardi, hired in December 2024 at $1.5 million per year, is under contract through Jan. 15 2028.

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