The UNC Tar Heels shocked college football fans on Monday as they put Michael Lombardi on paid leave. The team stated that the university board will not reveal any further details and will prohibit all students from doing the same.
In an On3 story on Monday, Pete Nakos reported that the decision was not made by Belichick or the school’s athletic department.
Instead, the administration put Lombardi on leave after a reported complaint from the HR department.
The incident comes just weeks before the Tar Heels open their second season under Belichick with a matchup against TCU waiting for them in Dublin, Ireland.
College Sports Commission Investigating UNC Football Amid Michael Lombardi Leave
As Michael Lombardi stepped away from the team, the Tar Heels football program is also under investigation by the College Sports Commission, which oversees enforcement of NCAA rules, as reported by Pablo Torre.
While the exact instances under investigation are uncertain, this adds to UNC and Bill Belichick’s woes as they try to improve after a lowly 4-8 record in 2025.
Besides their on-field issues, UNC has also had a mediocre recruiting record, with their 2025 class ranking 29th in the nation, according to 247Sports. The 2026 class has seen some improvement, however, with four-stars Travis Burgess and C.J. Sadler leading the way.
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