Lombardi cherishing 49ers return after roller-coaster NFL journey

Fresh out of college, Mick Lombardi began his NFL life as a scouting assistant with the New England Patriots. He was there for two seasons and remained under contract to the Patriots when he asked coach Bill Belichick for a favor. While Lombardi attended Fordham University in New York, he began dating Michelle Ancelj, a standout soccer player from Millbrae. She moved back to the Bay Area after college. Meanwhile, Lombardi was all the way across the country when he had an opportunity to join Jim Harbaugh's staff with the 49ers in 2013. "Coach Belichick let me leave, because I told him this was the girl I was going to marry," Lombardi told NBC Sports Bay Area. "This was a good opportunity for me personally and professionally. "We always joke that Jim Harbaugh coming to the Niners is the reason we're still together — nine years married and three kids later." Lombardi ended up serving in a variety of roles with the 49ers, beginning with "assistant to the head coach." He spent time coaching on both sides of the ball and remained with the 49ers under coaches Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly. Now, Lombardi, 35, is back with the 49ers after he accepted an offer early in the offseason to join...