The 1953 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season.
They were led by fifth-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field.
The Leathernecks finished the season with a 8–2 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC.
They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated Iowa Wesleyan 32–0.
This college football 1950s season article is a stub.