| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Tulane Green Wave |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Head Coach: | Vince Gibson |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Coach: | Ken Meyer |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Louisiana Superdome |
The 1981 Tulane Green Wave football team was an American football team that represented Tulane University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season as an independent. In their second year under head coach Vince Gibson, the team compiled a 6–5 record.