Michael Lombardi resigns as GM of UNC football team

Key Points:

• Michael Lombardi resigned as general manager of North Carolina's football team amid an ongoing investigation into a human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee.
• The investigation has expanded to include inquiries about Lombardi's involvement in hiring and firing decisions related to female and minority staffers, with attorneys interviewing UNC staff, coaches, and their associates.
• UNC stated it will continue the investigation and consider appropriate corrective actions based on findings, while Lombardi expressed gratitude to UNC leadership and cited his resignation as a move to help the team focus on the upcoming season.
• Lombardi, a longtime aide to coach Bill Belichick, joined UNC in December 2024 with a $1.5 million annual salary, making him the highest-paid GM among public universities; his lawyer has denied the allegations, calling the investigation baseless.
• Lombardi had previously drawn attention for controversial comments and decisions, including comparing the Tar Heels to an NFL team and restricting Patriots scouts' access to UNC's program.