| Year: | 1997 |
| Team: | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Gateway Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | Gateway |
| Tsnrank: | 2 |
| Record: | 11–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–0 |
| Head Coach: | Randy Ball |
| Hc Year: | 8th |
| Stadium: | Hanson Field |
| Champion: | Gateway champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 12–14 vs. McNeese State |
The 1997 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by eighth-year head coach Randy Ball and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with an 11–2 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, making them conference champions. The team received an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Jackson State before losing to McNeese State in the quarterfinals.[1]
Running back Aaron Stecker, a transfer from Wisconsin, finished the year with 1,957 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, which ranked second and first in Division I-AA respectively. Stecker was named the Gateway Conference's offensive player of the year.[2]