Sports

Former North Carolina QB Takes Victory Lap Watching Mack Brown Get His ‘Revenge’

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Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports / Robert Myers-Imagn Images

UNC place football GM Michael Lombardi on leave.


More drama has surfaced in Chapel Hill. UNC football GM Michael Lombardi is on administrative leave following an HR complaint filed by a front office employee.

Former North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams has been weary of the new Tar Heels staff. He took a victory lap on social media Monday after news of the Lombardi drama broke.

Williams is a known Belichick hater. He is boycotting UNC football so long as the current regime is in charge.

This past March, the passer posted a cryptic message of issues inside the program. It is unclear if his allegations were tied to Lombardi.

Williams is not alone in his criticism of the coaching staff. Reports of toxicity and favoritism have been linked to players and parents. That, combined with the offseason sideshow of Belichick’s love life, has turned the Tar Heels into a bit of a laughingstock.

Drama has surrounded the program since Belichick’s hiring. His closest confidant’s job is now in jeopardy.

UNC places Michael Lombardi on leave.

That decision was made by the university, not Bill Belichick. Details are still unclear, though Pete Thamel of ESPN suggests an HR complaint sparked a workplace investigation.

Lombardi has been on staff as the program’s GM over the last 20 months. He is paid $1.5 million per year to assemble the Tar Heels’ roster.

That lineup went 4-8 in Year 1. The team lost all but two ACC games. It was a disappointment following an offseason of hype.

Belichick and Lombardi had been preparing for the 2026 season. Again, off the field storylines will overshadow the school’s pursuit of excellence.

Marquise Williams was right.

“People called me crazy,” he wrote on X after news of Michael Lombardi’s UNC leave broke. “The truth always comes to light.”

Williams is referring to his past criticisms of Belichick and his staff. He will not support the Tar Heels with this group in Chapel Hill.

That feeling appears mutual. Williams was an All-ACC player under Larry Fedora. He threw for more than 6,000 yards across his last two seasons. He has been welcomed back to campus on multiple occasions since graduating in 2015.

Each of those returns came when Mack Brown was the coach. He is not close to the current leadership.

Williams has previously expressed his support of Brown, who was forced out in 2024. He took a victory lap while watching the former UNC coach get his “revenge.”

Mack Brown is winning.

Brown appeared on the Triple Option podcast to speak on his ouster at North Carolina, as well as his current situation. He is not bitter. He’s enjoying mentoring business leaders, golfing, and having the ability to speak freely. There are no regrets.

“Success is always the best revenge,” he closed. “Go do something to help people. Don’t sit around and talk bad about others.”

Brown had reason to trash his former program. He served two stints with the Tar Heels, winning 113 games and making 12 bowl games. The coach voiced a desire to continue coaching beyond 2024. He was fired after refusing to retire.

Despite the ugly breakup, Brown is happy with his life. He doesn’t hold a grudge. He won’t bad-mouth a program where he spent nearly two decades.

Williams has no problem airing North Carolina’s drama. He will continue to do so as long as Brown’s successor is in charge.

That Tar Heels will conduct their investigation into Michael Lombardi over the coming days. We’ll see if it results in another embarrassing blemish on the current staff’s resume.