| Year: | 1949 |
| Team: | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | IIAC |
| Record: | 9–1 |
| Conf Record: | 4–0 |
| Head Coach: | Vince DiFrancesca |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Morgan Field |
| Champion: | IIAC champion |
| Bowl: | Corn Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 13–0 vs. Wheaton (IL) |
The 1949 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1949 college football season. They were led by first-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Morgan Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 9–1 record overall and a 4–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated the Wheaton Crusaders, 13–0.[1]