| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 1978 |
| Team: | East Carolina Pirates |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Head Coach: | Pat Dye |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Stadium: | Ficklen Memorial Stadium |
| Bowl: | Independence Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 35–13 vs. Louisiana Tech |
The 1978 East Carolina Pirates football team was an American football team that represented East Carolina University as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Pat Dye, the team compiled a 9–3 record.[1]