North Carolina G.M. Michael Lombardi resigned on Thursday, shortly before a sweeping WRAL report exposed serious issues within the Tar Heels program. Based on that report, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick could be next.
The investigation’s ultimate focus could be head coach Bill Belichick, with a for‑cause termination that would nullify the remainder of his contract buyout.
The WRAL report includes statements from individuals interviewed by an external law firm: “[T]he people said they were asked whether they had reported any potentially questionable behavior to Bill Belichick.”
This detail is significant because it touches on Article 11 of Belichick’s five‑year, $50 million agreement, which outlines the grounds for a for‑cause dismissal.
The pertinent clause, Article 11(c), reads: “Any action that is (i) taken by the Coach or someone under his supervision, or (ii) taken at the Coach’s direction or that of someone under his supervision, or (iii) known by the Coach or a supervised individual and not reported by the Coach to the Athletics Compliance Office, as required, and that leads to a material disciplinary finding, sanction, or action against the Coach or the program by the NCAA, ACC, the university, or another regulatory body—exceeding a simple letter of admonishment—constitutes cause for termination.”
Given the serious allegations under review—including claims that Steve Belichick used or supplied drugs to players, that an unnamed recruiting staff member had a sexual relationship with a player, and that assistant coaches and recruiting personnel engaged in inappropriate relationships—a determination that Bill Belichick knew of such conduct and failed to report it could justify a for‑cause firing and eliminate his remaining buyout.
The very existence of the investigation indicates that someone within UNC’s leadership may be seeking grounds to dismiss Belichick for cause. While winning programs often overlook potential violations, only when administrators look for an exit do they scrutinize the contract’s termination provisions.