| Year: | 1983 |
| Team: | Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | independent |
| Record: | 9–2–1 |
| Head Coach: | Rick E. Carter |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Mark Duffner |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain: | Harry Flaherty |
| Captain2: | Matt Martin |
| Captain3: | Rob Porter |
| Stadium: | Fitton Field |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 21–28 vs. Western Carolina |
The 1983 Holy Cross Crusaders football team was an American football team that represented the College of the Holy Cross as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Crusaders ranked No. 3 nationally but lost in the quarterfinals of the Division I-AA playoff.
In their third year under head coach Rick E. Carter, the Crusaders compiled a 9–2–1 record (9–1–1 regular season). Harry Flaherty, Matt Martin and Rob Porter were the team captains.[1]
An eight-game winning streak to open the campaign saw Holy Cross steadily climb in the weekly national rankings, reaching No. 1 in time for their last regular-season game. After suffering their first loss of the year in that season-ender—to Division I-A Boston College, in a game played at the New England Patriots home stadium—the Crusaders dropped to No. 3 in the Division I-AA rankings, and earned a playoff first-round bye before being eliminated in the second round.
Holy Cross played its home games, including its first-ever home playoff game, at Fitton Field on the college campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.