Michael Lombardi, who has influenced numerous transactions in his two seasons with the New England Patriots, reportedly is leaving the team.
Lombardi is moving on from his role as assistant to the coaching staff, sources told ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Friday night. Lombardi joined the Patriots in February 2014 after serving as the Cleveland Browns’ general manager in 2013.
Lombardi and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick became close while with the Browns from 1991 to 1995. Lombardi also worked with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997 and 1998, and he was the Oakland Raiders’ senior personnel executive from 1999 to 2007.
It has been speculated that Lombardi could be returning to the media. He was an NFL Media analyst from 2008 to 2012. Lombardi’s close friend Bill Simmons has a new television show, “Any Given Wednesday”, premiering on HBO on June 22. Simmons also has a podcast network on his website, The Ringer.
The Patriots brought in former Browns Dion Lewis, Jabaal Sheard, Brian Tyms, Eric Martin and Ishmaa’ily Kitchen during Lombardi’s time in New England.
Thumbnail photo via Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports Images
