| Year: | 1897 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 7–3 |
| Head Coach: | William Ayres Reynolds |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Arthur Belden |
| Stadium: | Campus Athletic Field (I) |
The 1897 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina as an independent during the 1897 college football season. Led by first-year head coach William Ayres Reynolds, the Tar Heels compiled a record of 7–3. Arthur Belden was the team captain.