While Lombardi resigned from UNC, reports say football investigation expands

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The bye week has been anything but quiet. North Carolina’s first off week of the season has, once again, brought scrutiny to the program.

The University of North Carolina announced General Manager Michael Lombardi’s resignation on Thursday afternoon. Reports by WRAL, Yahoo Sports and The Athletic surfaced shortly after about UNC investigating other alleged improper activities by members of its football staff.

The reports claim Steve Belichick, head coach Bill Belichick’s son and defensive coordinator, used drugs on the job and allege he may have provided illicit substances to a player. Steve Belichick has been on medical leave for an undisclosed reason since early August. He did not travel to Dublin, Ireland, for the season opener last week.

Allegations have also been made regarding possible inappropriate relationships between staff and players, and upper-level employees and their subordinates.

“UNC’s investigation is delving into whether people other than Michael were having ‘inappropriate relationships,’” Lombardi’s attorney, Tom Mars, told The Athletic. “Michael is not aware of any such relationships, nor was it his job to monitor.”

The News & Observer contacted numerous people closely connected to the UNC program, seeking to independently confirm these claims. No confirmation was received as of Friday. The N&O also contacted Mars via email and phone but received no response.

This is just the latest saga during the Bill Belichick era. The head football coach’s tenure has been rife with controversy and investigations, from Jordon Hudson’s reported involvement, an assistant coach’s suspension for violating NCAA rules last year regarding “improper benefits” and Lombardi’s scrutinized 2025 trip to Saudi Arabia.

“I want to thank Chancellor Roberts and Bill Belichick for the opportunity to serve as the GM of UNC Football,” Lombardi said in a statement released through his attorney, Tom Mars. “I have decided it’s best for me to resign my position as GM to allow the team to focus on the ’26 season.”

The university placed Lombardi on administrative leave on July 27, days before UNC began fall camp.

ESPN Senior College Football writer Pete Thamel reported that a source told him that Lombardi’s leave stemmed from a “human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee.”

Meanwhile, the Athletic previously wrote that the College Sports Commission has “approached” UNC for an investigation, with Lombardi’s “actions believed to be of interest.”

According to recent reports, the university’s investigation has expanded to not only include Lombardi but the alleged actions of other members of the football program.

Prior to Lombardi’s resignation, Mars called North Carolina’s investigation a “witch hunt.”

“If UNC had grounds to fire Michael for cause, they wouldn’t need to conduct such a far-ranging, lengthy witch hunt,” Mars told The Athletic last week. “They would have done so by now. I think the motive behind the investigation goes further than a $1.5 million buyout. After all, UNC could fire Michael (or the athletic director of any head coach) for no reason at all just by paying their buyout. In today’s world, $1.5 million is just a drop in the bucket, so there must be other reasons behind this multimillion-dollar investigation.”

It’s unclear why Lombardi resigned, especially following Mars’ comments.

The university hired an external firm to assist with the investigation, but no public funds were being used to hire the firm, according to school officials. UNC has not released additional details nor a timeline for the ongoing investigation.

Mars previously stated Lombardi was cooperating with university officials.

This story was originally published September 4, 2026 at 3:59 PM with the headline “While Lombardi resigned from UNC, reports say football investigation expands.”