| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Drake Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVC |
| Record: | 10–1 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Chuck Shelton |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | John Hancock |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Maury Waugh |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Drake Stadium |
| Champion: | MVC co-champion |
The 1981 Drake Bulldogs football team represented the Drake University as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Chuck Shelton, Drake compiled an overall record of 10–1 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the MVC title with Tulsa.