| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Tennessee State Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 8–3 |
| Head Coach: | John Merritt |
| Hc Year: | 17th |
| Stadium: | Hale Stadium |
| Champion: | Black college national champion |
The 1979 Tennessee State Tigers football team were an American college football team which represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 17th-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a record of 8–3.