| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 8 |
| Aprank: | 9 |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Dick Crum |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Captain: | Shelton Robinson, Lee Shaffer |
| Stadium: | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | Gator Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Gator Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 31–27 vs. Arkansas |
The 1981 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Tar Heels were led by fourth-year head coach Dick Crum and played their home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing in second.[1]