An investigation into North Carolina’s football program found that “certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct,” but that the actions were “isolated” and “not a systematic failure,” the university said Thursday.
As part of the investigation’s conclusion, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, son of head coach Bill Belichick — who has been on medical leave since Aug. 6 — has resigned. The 39-year-old’s resignation will go into effect at the conclusion of his leave, on Oct. 27.
Former UNC general manager Michael Lombardi — once the highest-paid GM in college football, making $1.5 million annually — previously resigned on Sept. 3.
North Carolina said that “corrective actions” are now underway under the supervision of UNC’s athletic department and the school’s Office of University Counsel. As a result, the school considers the investigation resolved.
Additionally, the school announced that freshman wide receiver Keeyun Chapman — the highest-ranked recruit in Bill Belichick’s 2026 class — has been suspended indefinitely from the program for a separate incident that transpired earlier this week. According to multiple reports, Chapman was arrested Tuesday night on a misdemeanor weapons charge.
The investigation into Belichick’s program has hung over the Tar Heels since late July, when Lombardi was first placed on paid administrative leave after allegations against him initially surfaced. At the time, chancellor Lee Roberts — who played a central role in Belichick’s hiring in Dec. 2024 — said he was “disappointed” to be discussing such matters so close to the team’s season opener against TCU in Dublin.
On Aug. 6, Belichick announced that Steve Belichick had gone on medical leave, with no timetable for his return. Steve Belichick did not travel with UNC to Ireland for its season-opening 15-10 win.
With both Lombardi and Steve Belichick out of the picture in recent weeks, a team source, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to speak publicly, told The Athletic that operations around the football program have been smoother. Additionally, the team source added that Belichick’s other son, Brian — the team’s safeties coach — assumed defensive play-calling duties in Steve’s absence, contrary to reports that Bill Belichick himself absorbed those responsibilities.
Belichick’s Tar Heels are 2-0 and travel to Clemson this weekend for a pivotal ACC opener.
The Athletic reported in September that UNC’s initial investigation into Lombardi had expanded to the program at large and possible inappropriate relationships within it, according to Lombardi’s attorney Tom Mars and another person who was interviewed by investigators, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.
“UNC’s investigation is delving into whether people other than Michael were having ‘inappropriate relationships,’” Mars told The Athletic. “Michael is not aware of any such relationships, nor was it his job to monitor.”
UNC did not address those relationships specifically, or any other details of the investigation, in its statement released Thursday.
When North Carolina first began its investigation, athletic director Steve Newmark confirmed that the school’s Office of University Counsel was overseeing the matter. However, in early August, as the investigation continued, UNC hired outside counsel — Nate Huff and McNair Nicholls of Barnes & Thornburg LLP — to assist those efforts.
“We believe the steps announced today will help make Carolina Football a stronger program,” the school’s statement added, “and one that continues to earn the pride of the entire Carolina community.”
This story will be updated. More to come.