Steve Belichick, the son of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, has resigned from the university after an investigation into the football program’s culture found “a disregard for Carolina’s values and standards of conduct.”
The 39-year-old was placed on medical leave last month, shortly before a bombshell report from WRAL alleged that investigators were examining whether the defensive coordinator used drugs while working or supplied drugs to at least one Tar Heels player.
Steve, who served as his father’s defensive coordinator while entering the final year of a $2.7 million contract, will officially depart on October 27, when his medical leave ends.
UNC announced Thursday morning that its investigation into the culture of the football program had been completed.
The university said: ‘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.’
UNC also confirmed that freshman wide receiver Keeyun Chapman has been suspended from the team “indefinitely” after his arrest Tuesday night on a misdemeanor gun charge.
Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick’s son, has resigned from his role at the University of North Carolina
The departure represents another setback for his 74-year-old father early in the new season
Steve previously worked alongside his Hall of Fame father with the New England Patriots, helping the team win three Super Bowl titles. He joined Bill in Chapel Hill after spending the 2024 season at the University of Washington.
His resignation comes two weeks after Michael Lombardi, a longtime Belichick ally and UNC’s football general manager, also stepped down.
Lombardi, 67, was placed on paid administrative leave in July after a former staffer filed an internal human resources complaint. UNC paid him $1.5 million per year, making him the highest-paid general manager in college football.
After Lombardi’s departure, reports emerged that attorneys investigating the program were examining allegations involving drug use and sexual relationships among players and staff.
According to WRAL, attorneys from Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the law firm hired by UNC, had shifted their focus to Belichick’s son.
The report said lawyers were questioning individuals about whether Steve used drugs while on the job or provided them to at least one player.
In a separate line of inquiry, attorneys were reportedly investigating whether a member of the Tar Heels’ recruiting staff had a sexual relationship with a player. They also questioned people about possible sexual relationships involving other assistant coaches and recruiting staff members.
WRAL reported that interviews focused on the culture of the North Carolina football program under Bill Belichick and Lombardi. Investigators were seeking documents, images of text messages and information about whether anyone had alerted Belichick to “questionable behavior.”
Those interviewed included current and former players, parents and staff members. Lombardi was also questioned as part of the investigation.
Michael Lombardi, UNC’s football general manager and a key Belichick ally, also resigned this month
Steve Belichick previously worked on his father’s coaching staff with the New England Patriots
One week after Lombardi was placed on leave in July and the investigation began, Bill Belichick said Steve had also been put on leave because of an unspecified “medical situation.”
Steve was due to meet with the media after UNC’s first preseason practice on July 29, but it was later claimed he was ‘feeling under the weather’.
His dad announced a week later, on August 6, that he was on medical leave with no timetable to return.
‘We look forward to getting him back as soon as possible,’ the eight-time Super Bowl winner said at the time.
‘It’s a medical situation so I really can’t make any further comment.’
Last year Steve’s wife, Jen, savaged Belichick’s partner, Jordon Hudson, in a foul-mouthed, 40-minute rant in front of the NFL legend.
The New York Post claimed Jen branded Hudson, 25, ‘bats*** crazy’ back in November and accused her of ‘f***ing twisting’ the brain of her 74-year-old boyfriend.
The legendary coach was reportedly urged to ‘wake up’ and then issued with an ultimatum: ‘You choose your family or [her].’
It followed claims that Belichick’s family started ‘digging into’ Hudson amid fears she could tear down ‘everything he’s built.’
And tensions reportedly spilled over in Belichick’s office on November 8 – after the Tar Heels beat Stanford.
Jen Belichick, wife of Steve, reportedly lashed out at Jordon Hudson in a 40-minute rant
Jen and Steve Belichick have been married for nearly a decade and share several children.
The exits of both his son and Lombardi, plus the widening scope of the investigation, come as a bitter blow for Belichick in the early stages of his second season in charge of the Tar Heels.
Belichick endured a difficult inaugural season in Chapel Hill, with the Tar Heels posting a disappointing 4-8 record in 2025.
UNC’s 2026 season has started with two victories – over TCU and East Tennessee State.
But they have two difficult games back-to-back against Clemson on Saturday and Notre Dame on October 3.
