| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 2011 |
| Team: | Northern Iowa Panthers |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Tsnrank: | 6 |
| Fcscoachrank: | 5 |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 7–1 |
| Hc Year: | 11th |
| Cooff Coach1: | Bill Salmon |
| Cooc1 Year: | 11th |
| Cooc2 Year: | 6th |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Champion: | MVFC co-champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I Quarterfinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 10–48 vs. Montana |
The 2011 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers were coached by Mark Farley and played their home games at the UNI-Dome. They are members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 10–3, 7–1 in MVFC play to share the conference championship with North Dakota State. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they defeated Wofford in the second round before falling to Montana in the quarterfinals.
L. J. Fort was named MVFC defensive player of the year.
| Name | Position | Year at Northern Iowa | Alma Mater (Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | 11th | Northern Iowa (1987) | |
| Rick Nelson | Recruiting coordinator Offensive Line | 12th | Northern Iowa (1984) |
| Bill Salmon | Associate head coach Offensive coordinator Receivers | 11th | Northern Iowa (1980) |
| Co-offensive coordinator Quarterbacks | 11th | San José State (1988) | |
| Jeremiah Johnson | Recruiting coordinator/Asst. Defensive Coach | 5th | Kansas (2000) |
| Dan Clark | Tight ends | 2nd | Simpson (1995) |
| Defensive coordinator Linebackers | 3rd | Northern Michigan (1999) | |
| Defensive line | 2nd | Wartburg (1995) | |
| Eric Sanders | Running backs | 2nd | Northern Iowa (2008) |
| Defensive backs | 1st | Cincinnati (2003) | |