On Thursday, North Carolina Tar Heels General Manager Michael Lombardi resigned amidst an internal investigation by the university. Now, it looks like Bill Belichick’s son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, is under investigation.
Lombardi’s resignation came hours after WRAL News questioned North Carolina officials about some new revelations regarding the internal investigation. According to the outlet, the investigation is still ongoing, and lawyers hired by the university are now focusing on the behavior of Steve Belichick, including whether or not he used drugs on the job.
Lombardi Announces Resignation
On Thursday afternoon, Lombardi officially resigned from his position at North Carolina amidst the ongoing investigation.
“I want to thank Chancellor [Lee] Roberts and Bill Belichick for the opportunity to serve as the GM of UNC Football,” Lombardi said in a statement to WRAL News that was released through his lawyer. “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 will continue its ongoing investigation and will consider all appropriate corrective actions responsive to the information it learns,” the university said in a statement.
Lombardi has worked alongside Bill Belichick during intermittent stints spanning nearly four decades, dating back to their time with the Cleveland Browns in the late 1980s.
Steve Belichick Faces Investigation
With Lombardi now officially gone from the program, WRAL reports that the investigation now centers on Steve Belichick, with reporters asking questions about whether or not he used drugs on the job or provided drugs to at least one player.
“Lawyers hired to conduct the investigation are also questioning people about whether defensive coordinator Steve Belichick used drugs on the job or provided drugs to at least one player — and, separately, about whether a member of UNC’s recruiting staff had a sexual relationship with a player, people familiar with the investigation told WRAL. They also asked about possible sexual relationships between assistant coaches and recruiting staff, the people said,” WRAL reported on Thursday.
WRAL reports that people who were questioned as part of the inquiry were asked about the culture of the football program under Bill Belichick and Lombardi. They said a lawyer who conducted the interviews was questioning current and former Tar Heels players, their parents and staff members as part of the investigation. The firm was seeking documents and screenshots of text conversations, they said.
UNC has declined to publicly disclose the specifics of the investigation.
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