UNC's Steve Belichick to resign; investigation finds 'a disregard for Carolina’s values'

Investigators confirmed to WRAL that they investigated allegations of drug use and sexual relationships within the program. The investigation consisted of about 60 interviews, including one with Bill Belichick, who gave access to staff and facilities. Posted

9/17/2026, 1:33:12 PM

Updated

9/18/2026, 2:22:08 AM

By Brian Murphy, WRAL News

CHAPEL HILL — University of North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, is resigning following an internal investigation that found actions within the football program that demonstrated “a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct,” the University said Thursday.

Steve Belichick has been on medical leave for more than a month. His resignation will be effective on Oct. 27, when the medical leave ends, the university said. Specifics about his leave haven’t been publicly disclosed by the university. Steve Belichick didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

“We are grateful for our time and our opportunity in Chapel Hill, and we are very proud of our influence on the positive direction of the program,” Jen Belichick, Steve Belichick’s wife, told ESPN in a statement. “… There is misinformation and speculation about our own situation, but we believe prioritizing health as the most important thing you can do in this life and is invaluable compared to anything else.”

The departure comes two weeks after WRAL reported that outside investigators, hired by UNC, had questioned people close to the program about whether Steve Belichick had used drugs on the job or whether he provided drugs to at least one player. The report cited multiple people familiar with the investigation. Investigators on Thursday confirmed that they asked about allegations of drug use among people in the program, but they declined to provide specifics citing attorney-client privilege. “The category of issues that we looked at included allegations related to drugs, and I investigated those allegations,” said Nate Huff, a private lawyer who was hired to lead the investigation“… University leadership can consider and make decisions about what, if any, corrective actions need to be made.”

UNC didn’t give an explicit reason for Steve Belichick’s resignation.

But it announced the departure in the same statement describing findings of its internal investigation into the “culture and climate” of the football program.

“The investigation determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct,” UNC said in its statement. “The investigation also found that these actions were isolated in scope and not a systemic failure.”

Paul Newton, UNC’s vice chancellor and general counsel, said that the issues didn’t meet that standard because of the ability to fix the issues. Lombardi and Steve Belichick were the only two people who resigned during the course of the investigation. “In my mind, it’s if we didn’t have effective corrective actions,” Newton told WRAL.

“If we could not identify and be confident in executing or having already executed corrective actions that go to the root cause of the problem. I think we can do that here and [we’re] in that process.”

Huff and his team conducted about 60 interviews, including with Bill Belichick, in the course of their work, which began in late July, he told WRAL and other outlets on Thursday. The investigation started with allegations from former employees.

“There was also the instruction to make this more than that,” said Huff, a former federal prosecutor who is now a partner at the law firm Barnes & Thornburg. © WRAL

Huff said he had access to the entire football program, even during the season, and that Bill Belichick made any and all members of his staff available to investigators. “I had full run of the facility and the people that I needed to do my work and I was able to do that thoroughly and I made my recommendations and findings available to my client,” Huff said. UNC said the investigation is complete and that “all necessary corrective actions are now underway and will be overseen by Carolina Athletics and the Office of University Counsel.”

“Should credible new information arise, the University will evaluate it and take appropriate action consistent with its policies and responsibilities,” UNC said. Steve Belichick’s departure comes two weeks after the resignation of General manager Michael Lombardi, a longtime confidant of Bill Belichick. Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave before the season, resigning on Sept.

3, minutes before WRAL published a report about the expanding internal probe.

The UNC statement that announced the investigation’s findings also mentioned Lombardi’s departure, but it didn’t say whether the resignation was a direct result of the investigation. Lombardi hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment. Lombardi’s attorney, Tom Mars, previously told WRAL that Lombardi had been interviewed by investigators and that his client had complied with the investigation.

Mars has publicly called the investigation a “witch hunt.”

Huff said part of the investigation centered on the working environment in the football program. “Is it a safe and respectful environment?” he said. “Do the young people who work there have good supervision and mentorship and all that?

So the questions you’re asking get to that, too, which might be more important than who’s sleeping with who.”

UNC also said in its statement Thursday that, separate from the investigation, freshman wide receiver Keeyun Chapman has been suspended indefinitely by the program. Chapman faces a gun charge after a traffic stop Tuesday. Chapman was a passenger in the vehicle, according to police. “Chapman’s suspension, like the actions resulting from the investigation, reflect the university’s commitment to accountability and the well-being of its student athletes,” the university said. “We believe the steps announced today will help make Carolina Football a stronger program and one that continues to earn the pride of the entire Carolina community.”

Steve Belichick is in the final year of a two-year, $2.7 million contract. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington.

North Carolina visits Clemson for its first ACC game of the season Saturday. Chapman and fellow wide receiver C.J. Sadler aren’t expected to play in the game. In addition to Chapman’s gun charge, Sadler was cited for driving at least 60 mph in a 35-mph zone following the traffic stop on Tuesday. The resignations, Chapman’s gun citation and new details about the investigation add to a multilayered saga that has unfolded since UNC hired NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick in late 2024 to elevate its football program. The head coach’s tenure has generated far more off-field headlines than on-field success, including allegations of a divided locker room, questions about the influence his girlfriend has over his media projects, a spate of traffic citations and parking complaints, and the suspension of an assistant coach that coincided with a memo reminding members of the program that selling complimentary tickets could violate NCAA rules.

Full UNC statement

UNC issued a detailed statement Thursday on its investigation, Belichick and Chapman. Here is the full statement:

“The University has concluded a thorough and independent investigation into allegations related to culture and climate within the Carolina football program.

“The investigation determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct. The investigation also found that these actions were isolated in scope and not a systemic failure.

“As the University previously announced, General Manager Michael Lombardi resigned from the program effective September 3. Steve Belichick has resigned from his position of defensive coordinator, effective October 27, 2026, following the conclusion of his current medical leave. “Throughout the investigation, the University has been guided by the legal advice of outside counsel. All necessary corrective actions are now underway and will be overseen by Carolina Athletics and the Office of University Counsel.

With these actions, the University considers the investigation to be resolved. “Consistent with University policy regarding personnel matters, there will be no further comment on individuals. As always, should credible new information arise, the University will evaluate it and take appropriate action consistent with its policies and responsibilities.

Separately, Carolina Football has suspended Keeyun Chapman from the team indefinitely in connection with an incident Tuesday night. Chapman’s suspension, like the actions resulting from the investigation, reflect the University’s commitment to accountability and the well-being of its student athletes. We believe the steps announced today will help make Carolina Football a stronger program and one that continues to earn the pride of the entire Carolina community.”