Patriots Executive Michael Lombardi Leaving Team, Possibly Returning To Media

Mike Reiss of ESPN reports that NFL executive Michael Lombardi is moving on from his role with the Patriots.

Lombardi has spent the past two years working with the Patriots as an assistant to the coaching staff. However, Reiss mentions that Lombardi could consider returning to a job in the media, possible joining Bill Simmons at HBO.

The separation is believed to be an amicable parting of ways, according to Reiss.

Patriots HC Bill Belichick previously mentioned that Lombardi has been a huge asset for him over the past two years.

“I’ve asked Mike to do some things on an individual [basis] – projects or things that I’ve asked him to do – and he’s done a great job of that for me,” Belichick said last year. “Mike has been a big help to me personally.”

Lombardi has worked for a number of teams over the course of his NFL career, including serving as the Browns’ GM a few years ago. However, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam elected to make big changes to the front office, which led to him firing Lombardi and replacing him with Ray Farmer.