Bill Belichick's North Carolina football program faces fresh controversy as GM Michael Lombardi is placed on leave ahead of preseason practice.

The NFL legend expected his reputation to lure elite recruits to North Carolina, but recruiting struggles and a losing season reveal a massive miscalculation of the collegiate landscape.

"We're taking it day by day," Belichick said of his GM's absence. "And, you know, working through the things that are on the table now."

Michael Lombardi, the highest-paid GM at a public institution, is under official investigation as Bill Belichick's North Carolina program faces scrutiny.

Bill Belichick admitted the team was "working through some things" right now.

After a disappointing debut season in Chapel Hill, Belichick says the Tar Heels' foundation has finally been set

Belichick’s first big move after getting the job was that he entrusted his general manager job to his old pal Michael Lombardi, naming him UNC’s GM after he took over in Chapel Hill. What’s followed has been a remarkable dumpster fire, and we actually only now may start to get a clearer picture of just how unwieldy this all may be.

In a North Carolina side that struggled on all fronts, the offense drew the most criticism in 2025, and rightly so. And even on offense, a particular unit completely underperformed and was arguably the team’s weakest group,