| Year: | 1897 |
| Team: | Richmond Spiders |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Bill Wertenbaker |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | John W. T. McNeil |
| Stadium: | Broad Street Park |
| Prev Year: | 1895 |
The 1897 Richmond Spiders football team was an American football team that represented Richmond College—now known as the University of Richmond—as an independent during the 1897 college football season. Led by Bill Wertenbaker in his first and only year as head coach, Richmond compiled a record of 3–5.[1]