The North Carolina football team faces further difficulties as Bill Belichick announced his son, Steve Belichick, is currently absent from the squad. As the Tar Heels prepare for the upcoming season during fall camp, they do so without their defensive coordinator. During a session with the media, the UNC head coach informed reporters that his son, Steve, is on medical leave.
“I want to let everyone know that my son Steve is on medical leave, and we look forward to getting him back as soon as possible,” Bill Belichick shared. “It’s a medical situation, so I can’t make any further comment on that.”
The 2026 season is critical for North Carolina as they work to improve on a previous 4-8 year. Bill Belichick has faced numerous questions regarding the direction of his football program amid intense scrutiny from Tar Heel fans. Steve Belichick and head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels were seen during a second-half matchup against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., on September 1, 2025. (Getty Images)
There are many skeptics questioning the effectiveness of Belichick’s strategies in Chapel Hill. He has often relied on the transfer portal to secure victories in the challenging student-athlete financial landscape. Questions persist about whether transforming the North Carolina program into the so-called “NFL’s 33rd team” will be a long-term success. Early indications reveal that fan support is wavering, with the upcoming season unlikely to yield an ACC championship run.
Realistically, UNC’s best hope this season might be securing a reasonable postseason bowl game based on talent alone.
Investigation into GM Michael Lombardi
Before the fall camp began, North Carolina encountered off-field issues. On July 27, the school announced that general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on administrative leave due to a human resources complaint filed against him.
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has placed Michael Lombardi, general manager for the Carolina football program, on paid administrative leave, effective immediately,” stated the announcement. “As standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from further discussing this topic, and no judgment is made on its merits.”
Since then, Lombardi has enlisted attorney Tom Mars to represent him during the investigation. WRAL-TV reported on Wednesday that the university hired three external attorneys to assist in the investigation concerning the complaint against Lombardi.
Mars told ESPN, “Michael hasn’t been informed about UNC’s investigation details and welcomes the chance to clear his name, which has been tarnished by baseless statements and rumors on social media. He fully cooperates with UNC and expects a swift, thorough, and fair investigation.” He added, “Michael asks that people allow the process to proceed without rushing to conclusions about the investigation’s nature or the validity of the allegations.”
A Crucial Year for North Carolina and Bill Belichick
This season is crucial for the North Carolina head coach, given the ongoing changes in college football. A 4-8 record was not what UNC officials envisioned with the hiring of Bill Belichick, who was expected to transfer his NFL success to college-level play. While marketing efforts were robust at the start of the 2025 season, results led many at the university to question whether recruiting Belichick was wise.
Now, as the season begins with limited excitement on campus, there is widespread speculation about whether this plan will be a sustainable way to reintegrate UNC into the college football scene. Concurrently, changes in NIL and revenue-sharing have complicated efforts to keep the focus on football, an unforeseen issue when Belichick took the position.
As North Carolina prepares to face TCU in the season opener, many stakeholders have much to prove. Trey Wallace is the Sr. College Sports Reporter for OutKick.
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