1949 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team

The 1949 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1949 college football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Edwin Struck and played its home games at McCormick Field. The Redbirds finished the season with a 6–2–1 overall record and a 1–2–1 record in conference play.