Former New England Patriots assistant Michael Lombardi, the current general manager for the North Carolina Tar Heels, has reportedly been placed on administrative leave.
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the news on Monday morning.
The specifics surrounding the situation have not yet been revealed, but Thamel did offer more information after the initial report. According to Thamel, a pending investigation led to Lombardi being placed on administrative leave from the program.
"Per a source, this stems from an human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee. There’s a pending investigation, which led to the administrative leave," Thamel posted on X.
Per a source, this stems from an human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front
office employee. There’s a pending investigation, which led to the administrative leave. https://t.co/QVu4invBMa
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 27, 2026
Lombardi, a former NFL executive, worked with the Patriots under former coach Bill Belichick as an assistant to the coaching staff from 2014-2016. He then went on to do the media rounds until an opportunity to rejoin Belichick at North Carolina came up in 2025.
The Tar Heels finished with a 4-8 record and were tied for 13th in the ACC conference last season.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Ex-Patriots assistant reportedly on paid leave, pending investigation
