Former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Danny Kanell believes the University of North Carolina should never have dismissed Mack Brown and hired Bill Belichick as their new head coach.
The comments come after the program placed general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave, effective immediately, pending an investigation. Lombardi was Belichick’s first major hire and was believed to be the highest-paid general manager in college football, earning approximately $1.5 million annually.
Seeing the controversies unraveled in Chapel Hill following Belichick’s hiring in December 2024, Kanell argues that the Tar Heels were better off sticking with their former head coach.
“UNC should’ve never let Mack Brown go,” Kanell wrote on X. “If they stuck with Mack Brown and gave him the resources they gave to Bill Belichick the Tar Heels would be top third of the ACC worst case. Instead they are at the bottom and probably looking for a coach in a year or two.”
Brown’s second stint with UNC ended in 2024 after UNC lost four straight games and finished with a 6-6 record. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham dismissed Brown after the regular season despite the head coach wanting to return in 2025. The program then took a bet on six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Belichick, who had never before been the head coach of a college football program.
Under Belichick last year, the program finished with a dismal 4-8 record. Not to mention the several controversies he has been part of with the program already, especially those involving his much younger girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Why UNC Placed Bill Belichick’s GM Michael Lombardi on Paid Leave?
The decision to place Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave reportedly came after a former front office employee complained against the general manager to the human resources department.
“As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits,” Vice Chancellor Dean Stoyer said.
The University of North Carolina has not publicly disclosed the nature of the complaint or provided further details about the investigation.
Bill Belichick and Lombardi have previously worked together during their time with the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots. During his NFL career spanning over three decades, Lombardi was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams.
Before the job at North Carolina, Lombardi’s lone college administrative experience came when he was the recruiting coordinator for UNLV in the early 1980s.
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