| Year: | 1897 |
| Team: | Northwestern Purple |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Western Conference |
| Short Conf: | Western |
| Record: | 5–3 |
| Conf Record: | 0–2 |
| Head Coach: | Jesse Van Doozer |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Joe Hunter |
| Stadium: | Sheppard Field |
The 1897 Northwestern Purple team represented Northwestern University during the 1897 Western Conference football season. In their first and only year under head coach Jesse Van Doozer, the Purple compiled a 5–3 record (0–2 against Western Conference opponents) and finished in sixth place in the Western Conference.[1] [2]