The Moment That Derailed UNC’s Football Season Beyond Repair

UNC’s season began to unravel after one pivotal decision by general manager Michael Lombardi—a move that seemed minor at the time but ultimately derailed the Tar Heels’ campaign.

Head Coach Bill Belichick during North Carolina's 41-6 win over Richmond; Sept. 13, 2025 | Jackson McCurdy, North Carolina Tar Heels On SI

Whenever a typical college football team has a bye week, it's usually quiet and uneventful. Unfortunately for many North Carolina fans, the Tar Heels aren’t a typical program—their bye week was anything but quiet, and for all the wrong reasons.

From Belichick banning UNC's social media team from posting about Drake Maye because he now plays for the New England Patriots—the organization that fired Belichick—to the university holding "preliminary conversations" about "potential exit strategy discussions" regarding what to do with Belichick, it has been a wild week.

However, new information has emerged about Carolina’s ineptitude. While the focus is once again on off-the-field actions by UNC’s football staff, this time it centers on an ill-fated decision by general manager Michael Lombardi not to actively pursue Chandler Morris.

Why Morris Didn't Come to UNC

Oct 4, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) scrambles to get open against Louisville Cardinals defensive back D'Angelo Hutchinson (21) during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Virginia defeated Louisville 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

After passing for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns at North Texas, Morris entered the transfer portal following the 2024 regular season. Just days later, Belichick was named UNC’s head coach. Now a sixth-year senior with previous stops at Oklahoma and TCU, Morris expressed interest in playing for the six-time Super Bowl champion in Chapel Hill.

Oct 28, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a North Carolina Tar Heels helmet on the field before a game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

According to a report from The Athletic, Lombardi—the primary decision-maker in building the roster—chose not to pursue Morris despite his ability and experience. At about six feet and 190 pounds, Morris was considered undersized and did not possess the strongest arm. Lombardi made it clear to UNC’s personnel staff, a group of holdovers and new hires, why he made that decision.

North Texas QB Chandler Morris had thrown for 3,774 yards and 31 TDs when he put his name in the transfer portal.

He was interested in North Carolina, but the program didn't think he had what it takes.

Morris is now thriving at Virginia.https://t.co/BQPoiH43RG pic.twitter.com/e85q6W8Nmq

— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) October 10, 2025

“You just don’t understand what it takes to play in the National Football League,” he told staffers, according to the report.

Instead, Lombardi brought in Purdue’s Ryan Browne, a six-foot-four, 210-pound quarterback who had started two games for a 2-10 Boilermakers team. Browne was seen as a better fit for the offense that Belichick and offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens wanted to run.

Lombardi's Desion Might Have Been the Downfall of UNC's Season

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels general manager Michael Lombardi during the Bill Belichick hiring announcement at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Now, Morris has completed 70 percent of his passes for 1,428 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. Virginia is 5-1, on pace for its first winning season since 2019, and in the hunt for an ACC title and a possible College Football Playoff spot. The turnaround is significant for a program that went 11-23 in the three seasons before Morris arrived.

Lombardi failed to recognize that knowing what it takes to play in the NFL does not always translate to winning in college football.

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

In fact, Morris’s mobility made him a far better fit than Browne to operate behind an offensive line that struggled all season—a situation that calls for a quarterback who can improvise and extend plays. Morris has also rushed for 176 yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground.

“It’s the arrogance of it all,” a university source said in the report. “Because they had success in the NFL — and by they, I mean Belichick only — they (thought) they could come in and replicate that without knowing how college football works.”

Sep 26, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the second quarter at Scott Stadium. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

According to The Athletic, both Belichick and Lombardi declined to comment on the matter. Football spokesperson Brandon Faber said Belichick and the program would not be able to comment Friday due to UNC’s open week and the coach’s travel schedule.

For those wondering about Browne, the other quarterback on UNC's roster last spring, he transferred back to Purdue. There, he has thrown for 1,338 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Although his interception total is high, Browne is averaging 267.6 passing yards per game.

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez (7) is tackled by Richmond Spiders defensive linemen Daniel Sellers (47) and TJ Baldwin (93) and Matei Fitz (5) in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels are now 2-3 on the season, getting outscored by Power Four opponents 120-33 in all three of its losses and have the ACC’s worst passing offense, averaging just 161.6 yards per game.

Quarterback Gio Lopez, a post-spring transfer from South Alabama, has struggled for UNC. He has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 430 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Lopez is averaging just 107.5 yards per game—ranking 127th among Division I quarterbacks—and has not completed a pass beyond the line of scrimmage on the right side of the field.

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