Michael Lombardi (American football)

{{Short description|American sports player, executive, and journalist (born 1959)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Michael Lombardi

| image =

| image_size =

| current_team = North Carolina Tar Heels

| position = General manager

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|6|19|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Ocean City, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| high_school = Valley Forge Military Academy

| college = Hofstra

| pastexecutive =

UNLV (1981–1984)
Recruiting coordinator
San Francisco 49ers ({{nfly|1984}}–{{nfly|1987}})
Scout
Cleveland Browns ({{nfly|1987}}–{{nfly|1989}})
Scout
Cleveland Browns ({{nfly|1989}}–{{nfly|1993}})
Pro personnel director
Cleveland Browns ({{nfly|1993}}–{{nfly|1995}})
Director of player personnel
Philadelphia Eagles ({{nfly|1998}})
Director of pro personnel
Oakland Raiders ({{nfly|1998}}–{{nfly|2006}})
Senior personnel executive
Denver Broncos ({{nfly|2007}})
Personnel assistant
Cleveland Browns ({{nfly|2013}})
General manager & vice president
New England Patriots ({{nfly|2014}}–{{nfly|2016}})
Assistant to the coaching staff
North Carolina (2025–present)
General manager

| highlights =

3 × Super Bowl champion (XIX, XLIX, LI)

| pfrexec = LombMi0

}}

Michael Lombardi (born June 19, 1959) is an American professional football executive and media analyst who is the general manager for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. Until 2016, he was an assistant to the coaching staff of the New England Patriots and is a former analyst for the NFL Network and sportswriter at NFL.com.{{cite web | url = http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4794850/michael-lombardi-explains-his-parting-of-ways-with-patriots | title = Michael Lombardi explains his parting of ways with Patriots | date= 19 August 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = ESPN | author = Mike Reiss }}{{cite web | url = http://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-garoppolo-trade-rumor-browns-michael-lombardi-2017-1 | title = Former Patriots assistant floated a rumor that the Browns will try 'hard' to trade for Jimmy Garoppolo | date= 14 January 2017 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Business Insider | author = Scott Davis }} Lombardi also previously served as an NFL executive with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Oakland Raiders.{{cite web | url = http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/breaking-down-eagles-giants-with-nfl-insider-michael-lombardi-110416 | title = Breaking down Eagles-Giants with NFL insider Michael Lombardi | date= 15 November 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | work = Fox Sports }} He hosts his own podcast "The GM Shuffle" formerly with Adnan Virk now with Femi Abebefe, and co-hosts a Saturday morning sports betting program on Sirius XM for Vegas Stats & Information Network along with a daily show on Vegas Stats & Information Network called "The Lombardi Line".[http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2017/01/25/Lombardi.aspx The Ringer Hires Michael Lombardi As NFL Analyst in Exclusive Deal], January 25, 2017. Accessed February 14, 2017. Lombardi is not related to Green Bay Packers coaching legend Vince Lombardi.[http://www.rantsports.com/nfl/2012/11/05/cleveland-browns-could-michael-lombardi-become-the-new-gm/?dEGFr1J4oeMWBCB2.99 Cleveland Browns: Could Michael Lombardi Become The New GM?], [http://www.rantsports.com www.rantsports.com], 11-7-12, accessed 1-18-13

Life and career

=Early life=

Lombardi grew up in Ocean City, New Jersey and played both baseball and football at Valley Forge Military Academy.[http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Lombardi-named-VP-of-Player-Personnel/a39cea68-d2ce-4e9b-bd2d-acde91e5458f "Lombardi named VP of Player Personnel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106071514/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Lombardi-named-VP-of-Player-Personnel/a39cea68-d2ce-4e9b-bd2d-acde91e5458f |date=January 6, 2018 }}, Cleveland Browns, January 18, 2013. Accessed May 18, 2013. "A native of Ocean City, New Jersey, Lombardi lettered in both football and baseball at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania." He attended Hofstra University from 1977–1981, where he played defensive lineman and long snapper for the football team.{{cite web | url = http://pasadenasportsnow.com/?p=4951 | title = Michael Lombardi, Fox Sports 1 Sportscaster, at Pasadena Quarterback Rose Bowl Luncheon, Friday | date= 31 October 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Pasadena Sports Now }}

=Early career=

In 1981, Lombardi was hired as a recruiting coordinator at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas by Rebels' head coach Harvey Hyde.

=National Football League=

Lombardi began his NFL career in 1984 as an area scout under Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers, where he stayed until 1987.{{cite web | url = https://www.si.com/vault/1990/04/23/121877/the-genius-at-work-bill-walsh-built-the-san-francisco-49ers-through-brilliant-trading-and-drafting-and-the-1986-draft-was-his-masterpiece | title = The Genius At Work | date= 23 April 1990 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Sports Illustrated | author = Peter King }} He is credited for the initial discovery and scouting of Hall of Famer Charles Haley, who was drafted by San Francisco 49ers in 1986 NFL draft.

Lombardi joined the Cleveland Browns organization as pro personnel director in 1987. Later, he became the Browns' director of player personnel and worked under head coach Bill Belichick managing drafts, negotiating contracts and acquiring free agents.{{cite web | url = http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/01/former_cleveland_browns_person.html | title = Former Cleveland Browns personnel executive Mike Lombardi hired as Browns Vice President of Player Personnel | date= 13 January 2013 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Cleveland.com | author = Mary Kay Cabot }}

In 1997, Philadelphia Eagles President Joe Banner hired Lombardi as a consultant to assist with the 1997 NFL draft. Banner then named Lombardi director of pro personnel of the Eagles in 1998.

Later that same year, Al Davis hired Lombardi to serve as senior personnel executive of the Oakland Raiders, a position which he held until 2007.{{cite web | url = http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-browns/2012/12/17/3778588/mike-lombardi-browns-general-manager-tom-heckert-joe-banner | title = Mike Lombardi remains top candidate for potential Browns GM opening, according to report | date= 17 December 2012 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = SB Nation | author = Jason Patt }} During his tenure with the Raiders, Oakland won three consecutive AFC West titles and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVII.

In October 2012, sportswriter Jason La Canfora reported that the Cleveland Browns were considering Lombardi for their vacancy at general manager.{{cite web | url = http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/20723343 | title = The NFL Today: Panthers changes could extend to Ron Rivera

| date= 28 October 2012 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | work = CBS Sports | author = Jason La Canfora }} He was hired for that position five months later.{{cite web | url = http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/05/browns-make-lombardi-g-m-farmer-assistant-g-m/ | title = Browns make Lombardi G.M., Farmer assistant G.M | date= 5 March 2013 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = NBC Sports | author = Mike Florio }} On February 11, 2014, the Browns replaced Lombardi with Ray Farmer.{{cite web | url = https://www.nfl.com/news/joe-banner-michael-lombardi-leaving-browns-0ap2000000325021 | title = Joe Banner, Michael Lombardi leaving Browns | date= 11 February 2014 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | work = NFL.com | author = Mark Sessler }}

2014 through 2016, Lombardi worked under Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots as an assistant to the coaching staff.[http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2014/02/patriots_make_it_official_with_michael_lombardi.html "Patriots make it official with Michael Lombardi"], February 20, 2014. Accessed February 24, 2014.{{cite web | url =https://www.nfl.com/news/michael-lombardi-hired-by-new-england-patriots-0ap2000000326927 | title = Michael Lombardi hired by New England Patriots | date= 18 February 2014 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | work = NFL.com | author = Gregg Rosenthal }} Speaking about Lombardi's time in New England, Belichick said, "Mike's...one of the smartest people I've worked with. He was huge asset to me for the two years he was here...he studies football and he knows it very well."{{cite web | url =http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patriots/after-jamie-collins-trade-comments-new-england-patriots-bill-belichick-talks-mike-lombardi | title = Belichick: Lombardi 'one of the smartest people I know'| date= 2 November 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Comcast Sports Network | author = Tom E. Curran }}

Lombardi has worked as an administrator in the NFL for over 30 years and has worked for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belichick. Sports and pop culture essayist Chuck Klosterman described Lombardi as, "a detail freak and a polymath, or at least a person successfully attempting to impersonate one" after spending time with him at the Cleveland Browns facility in the hours leading up to the 2013 NFL draft.{{cite web | url = http://grantland.com/features/chuck-klosterman-draft-day-cleveland/ | title = Black and Brown Blues | date= 10 May 2013 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Grantland | author = Chuck Klosterman }} Lombardi has also been described as, "one of the most quiet but influential executives in the NFL." He has been credited as one of the first NFL executives to study the science of scouting players for moral character.{{cite web | url = http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/17255219/green-beret-brian-decker-thinks-improve-success-rate-nfl-first-round-draft-picks | title = Man On A Mission | date= 10 August 2016 | access-date = 3 March 2017 | publisher = ESPN | author = Seth Wickersham }}

=College=

On December 11, 2024, Lombardi accepted a position to become the general manager for the North Carolina Tar Heels, reuniting him with Bill Belichick.

=Broadcasting=

As a broadcaster, Lombardi has worked for ESPN, CBS Sports, Showtime, the NFL Network and Fox Sports.{{cite web | url = http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/20161102/nfl-analyst-michael-lombardi-to-speak-at-pasadena-qbs-club | title = NFL analyst Michael Lombardi to speak at Pasadena QBs Club | date= 2 November 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = San Gabriel Valley Tribune | author = Steve Ramirez }} He began his career as a member of the media in 1996 when he spent part of that year as an NFL draft analyst for ESPN. He also spent portions of 1998 and 1999 as an editorial consultant and studio analyst for CBS Sports as on-air talent for the NFL Today pre-game show.

In 2008, Lombardi joined NFL Films' Inside the NFL, a weekly Showtime series where he provided analysis alongside host James Brown and former NFL players Cris Collinsworth, Phil Simms and Warren Sapp.{{cite web | url = http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/01/02/report-pats-to-franchise-cassel/ | title = Report: Pats to Franchise Cassel | date= 2 January 2009 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = NBC Sports }} That same year, Lombardi began contributing to several NFL Network shows, including as an in-studio analyst and reporting live from individual games.{{cite web | url = http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/29/lombardi-the-49ers-are-going-to-hire-trent-baalke/ | title = Lombardi: "The 49ers are going to hire Trent Baalke" | date= 29 December 2010 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = NBC Sports | author = Gregg Rosenthal }}{{cite web | url = http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/latestnews/2016/09/former-national-football-league-front-office-executive-michael-l | title = Former National Football League Front Office Executive Michael Lombardi Joins FOX Sports | date= 12 September 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | work = Fox Sports }}

Lombardi was hired by Fox Sports in September 2016.{{cite web | url = http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2016/09/sage-steele-sportscenter-michael-lombardi-fox-darren-pang-espn-world-cup/ | title = Big Names: Sage Steele, Michael Lombardi, Darren Pang | date= 12 September 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Sports Media Watch }} When he joined Fox, national networks president Jamie Horowitz said in a statement, "Michael is a thought-provoking and insightful football analyst with an impressive résumé. We feel like his blunt approach and original perspective makes the FS1 shows more interesting, and the fans of those shows more informed."

=Digital media=

In 2010, after working as on-air talent at the NFL Network for two years, Lombardi began writing columns for NFL.com, duties he performed until 2012. Lombardi has also contributed writing to Sports Illustrated and the National Football Post, the latter of which he founded and served as editor-in-chief for three years.{{cite web | url = http://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/nfl-analyst-michael-lombardi-signs-exclusive-deal-with-the-ringer.html | title = NFL analyst Michael Lombardi signs exclusive deal with The Ringer | date= 25 January 2017 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Awful Announcing | author = Ian Casselberry }} In January 2017, Lombardi took a position with The Ringer where he hosted the "GM Street" podcast with Tate Frazier and also wrote articles on occasion for the website.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/gm-street|title = GM Street - the Ringer}} He announced via Twitter in March 2019 that he had left The Ringer to work on his own podcast.{{cite tweet|number=1102556164997464064|user=mlombardiNFL|title=For those asking, GM Street will not be back, will have my own podcast starting in April, (named already decided) a…|date=March 4, 2019}} He currently hosts The GM Shuffle podcast with Femi Abebefe and co-hosts a program called The Lombardi Line for VSiN Vegas Stats & Information Network.{{Cite web|url=https://player.fm/series/the-gm-shuffle-with-michael-lombardi-and-adnan-virk|title = The GM Shuffle with Michael Lombardi and Femi Abebefe podcast}}{{Cite web |title=Michael Lombardi - Host |url=https://vsin.com/author/michael-lombardi/ |website=VSiN}}

In September 2017, Mike Lombardi made headlines by criticizing Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson: "He might be less qualified to coach a team than anyone I’ve ever seen in my 30-plus years in the NFL."{{cite web | url = https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2017/9/3/16249726/former-nfl-gm-doug-pederson-head-coach-philadelphia-eagles-mike-lombardi-carson-wentz-ringer-video | title = Former NFL GM says Doug Pederson "might be less qualified to coach a team than anyone I've ever seen" | date= 3 September 2017 | access-date = 4 February 2018 | publisher = SB Nation | author = Brandon Lee Gowton }}

In 2020, Lombardi became a co-host on Hammer Dahn, a gambling podcast from Pat McAfee Inc.

=Writing=

Lombardi has written two books. Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL was published in September 2018.{{cite book |last1=Lombardi |first1=Michael |title=Gridiron Genius: A Master Class in Winning Championships and Building Dynasties in the NFL |date=September 11, 2018 |publisher=Crown Archetype |isbn=9780525573814}}

His second book was published in September 2023 and is called Football Done Right: Setting the Record Straight on the Coaches, Players, and History of the NFL.{{Cite book |last=Lombardi |first=Michael |title=Football Done Right: Setting the Record Straight on the Coaches, Players, and History of the NFL |date=2023-09-05 |publisher=Running Press Adult |isbn=978-0-7624-7953-5 |language=English}}

Personal life

Lombardi is not related to Green Bay Packers coaching legend Vince Lombardi. He is an avid reader with an interest in Robert Caro's biography of Lyndon B. Johnson.{{cite web | url = http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2016/11/18/People-and-Pop-Culture/Weekend.aspx | title = Weekend Plans With Fox Sports' Michael Lombardi: Diving Into The Next Chapter | date= 18 November 2016 | access-date = 28 February 2017 | publisher = Sports Business Daily | author = Thomas Leary }} He and his wife, Millie, have two sons: Matt, who was the assistant wide receivers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders; and Mick, who is the senior offensive assistant for the San Francisco 49ers.[https://twitter.com/BenVolin/status/1126884524212854784 Ben Volin, Boston Globe Reporter] 05-10-2019, accessed 05-10-2019