1981 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

The 1981 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Bill Mallory, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–7 in conference play, placing ninth in the MAC. Northern Illinois played home games at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.