The 1981 Virginia Union Panthers football team represented Virginia Union University as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season.
Led by 11th-year head coach Willard Bailey, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 11–1 and a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as CIAA champion after they defeated North Carolina Central in the first CIAA Championship Game.
Virginia Union finished their season with a loss against Shippensburg State in the Division II playoffs.
At the conclusion of the season, the Panthers were also recognized as black college national champion.
This college football 1980s season article is a stub.