1981 NFL season

The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26–21 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

Cal Lepore, the line judge for Super Bowl III and referee for the Miracle at the Meadowlands, retired after the 1980 season.

Tom Dooley, who was assigned Super Bowl XV as line judge at the end of the 1981 season, was promoted to referee to replace Lepore.

The 1981 Baltimore Colts were one of the worst defenses in NFL history; they set five dubious defensive records: The home of the San Diego Chargers, San Diego Stadium, was renamed Jack Murphy Stadium in memory of local sportswriter Jack Murphy This was the fourth and final year under the league's broadcast contracts with ABC, CBS, and NBC to televise Monday Night Football, the NFC package, and the AFC package, respectively.

[4] John Madden became the lead color commentator for CBS, replacing Tom Brookshier who moved into a play-by-play role.