| Year: | 2003 |
| Team: | Northern Iowa Panthers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Gateway Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | Gateway |
| Tsnrank: | 5 |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Mark Farley |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Bill Salmon |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | UNI-Dome |
| Champion: | Gateway champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 7–37 vs. Delaware |
The 2003 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Mark Farley, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the Gateway title. Northern Iowa advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Montana State in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Delaware in the quarterfinals.