UNC’s ongoing internal investigation, which initially centered on former general manager Michael Lombardi, has expanded into a broader examination of the football program, including serious allegations involving defensive coordinator Steve Belichick and questions about sexual relationships involving members of the program, according to a report from WRAL. (WRAL News)
The allegations have not been proven, and UNC has not publicly announced findings against Steve Belichick or other individuals implicated by the questions investigators are asking. But the widening scope of the inquiry adds another layer of uncertainty to a program already dealing with Lombardi’s departure.
UNC announced Thursday that Lombardi had resigned as the Tar Heels’ general manager, effective Sept. 3. He had been on paid administrative leave since July 27 while the university investigated allegations that led to the personnel action. UNC said the investigation will continue despite his resignation and that the university will consider appropriate corrective action based on what it learns. (WRAL News)
Investigators Asking Questions About Steve Belichick
According to WRAL, attorneys conducting the investigation have questioned people about allegations involving Steve Belichick, the son of UNC head coach Bill Belichick.
Those questions reportedly include whether Steve Belichick used drugs while working and whether he provided drugs to at least one North Carolina football player. Again, the report describes these as allegations being investigated—not established facts or conclusions reached by UNC. (WRAL News)
Steve Belichick has been away from the program since August. Bill Belichick announced Aug. 6 that his son was taking medical leave, saying at the time that it was a medical situation and that the program hoped to have him back as soon as possible. (WRAL News)
The latest reporting now puts additional scrutiny on the circumstances surrounding his absence.
Investigation Includes Questions About Sexual Relationships
The investigation also reportedly extends beyond the drug-related allegations.
WRAL reported that investigators have asked questions about a possible sexual relationship between at least one UNC employee and at least one football player. Other reporting citing WRAL says investigators have also asked about alleged inappropriate relationships involving recruiting personnel and members of the coaching staff. (WRAL News)
Those claims, like the allegations concerning Steve Belichick, remain under investigation.
One potentially significant question is what senior members of the program knew and when they knew it. According to reports, people interviewed during the investigation have been asked whether concerns were reported to Bill Belichick. (Yahoo Sports)
There has been no public finding that Bill Belichick knew of or participated in any alleged misconduct.
Lombardi Resigns as Investigation Continues
The widening investigation became public on the same day Lombardi officially left the program.
UNC hired outside attorneys in August to assist its Office of University Counsel with what the school described as a comprehensive but expedited review. At that point, it remained unclear publicly whether investigators were examining only allegations involving Lombardi or conducting a broader review of the football operation. (WRAL News)
Thursday's developments provide a clearer answer: the inquiry has extended beyond Lombardi.
Lombardi had been one of the central figures in Bill Belichick's attempt to transform North Carolina football. A longtime Belichick associate from their time in professional football, Lombardi helped facilitate Belichick's move to Chapel Hill and became one of his first hires.
He signed a three-year contract worth $1.5 million annually, making him the highest-paid general manager in college football. But after being placed on leave in July, Lombardi's tenure effectively came to an end Thursday. (WRAL News)
“I have decided it’s best for me to resign my position as GM to allow the team to focus on the ’26 season,” Lombardi said in a statement released through his attorney. (WRAL News)
UNC made clear that his resignation will not stop its investigation.
Pressure Builds Around Bill Belichick's UNC Program
The situation represents another major challenge for Bill Belichick's experiment in college football.
North Carolina entered the Belichick era with enormous expectations after hiring the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach in late 2024. Lombardi and Belichick publicly discussed constructing an NFL-style operation in Chapel Hill, with Lombardi famously describing the Tar Heels as college football's version of the NFL's “33rd team.”
The results on the field during the first season did not match the hype. UNC finished 4-8 in 2025 before opening the 2026 season with a 15-10 victory over TCU in Dublin on Aug. 29. Neither Lombardi nor Steve Belichick was with the team for that victory. (WRAL News)
What happens next could be determined as much by investigators as by anything that happens on the football field.
The central issue now is whether investigators substantiate any of the allegations they are examining and, if so, how far responsibility extends through the program.
For now, there is an important distinction between allegations and findings. UNC has publicly confirmed its continuing investigation and Lombardi's resignation, while the most serious details involving drugs and sexual relationships come from reporting about questions investigators have asked. No final investigative report establishing those allegations has been made public.
But what began as an investigation connected to North Carolina's general manager has clearly become something much larger—and potentially much more consequential for the future of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill. (WRAL News)