Michael Lombardi joins Bill Belichick to serve as UNC football GM

Michael Lombardi will be North Carolina football’s next GM, VSiN reports. Lombardi worked with the network since 2018, and will now join Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill.

The news of Belichick’s hire on Wednesday made headlines across the sport, and it appears as though he’s putting together his first staff swiftly. Lombardi, a 3-time Super Bowl-winning NFL executive, is the first to be announced.

“I’m excited to join Coach Belichick at North Carolina,” Lombardi said. “Although leaving my VSIN family will be hard, I’m excited to return to helping build a winning program. I’m forever thankful for all the great people at VSIN, especially Bill Adee and the Musburger family.”

Lombardi has an extensive background in the NFL, having worked for the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns across three decades of experience. He served in multiple positions throughout his career, including as a recruiting coordinator and scout, all the way up to general manager and vice president. He held both titles simultaneously for the Cleveland Browns in 2013.

He last worked in the NFL alongside Belichick in New England from 2014-16 as an assistant to the coaching staff. He won two Super Bowls with the Patriots during those three years. His other Super Bowl came during his time with the San Francisco 49ers when he was serving as a scout during the 1985 season.

“He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever worked with and was a huge asset to me for the two years that he was here. He studies football, and he knows it very well,” Belichick said of Lombardi, via VSiN’s report.

According to the report, Lombardi plans to finish out the next few weeks on VSiN before joining the Tar Heels program early this offseason.

North Carolina still has a bowl game to play this season. They’re set to participate in the 2024 Wasabi Fenway Bowl against the UConn Huskies. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Dec. 28 at 11 a.m. (EST) at Fenway Park in Boston, MA live on ESPN