The 2021 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

Quarterback Running back Wide receiver Placekicker Punter Tight end Offensive lineman Defensive lineman Linebacker Defensive back Long snappers Larry Porter was hired in January for his second stint as the Tar Heels' running backs coach,[3] replacing Robert Gillespie, who departed for the same position at Alabama.

Former Tar Heel and NFL running back Natrone Means was also hired in the offseason as an offensive analyst.

^ The Duke's Mayo Bowl was the 59th edition of the North Carolina–South Carolina football rivalry.

The two teams are next scheduled to kick off the 2023 season, also at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.