1981 NFL season
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 6 – December 21, 1981 |
| Playoffs | |
| Start date | December 27, 1981 |
| AFC Champions | Cincinnati Bengals |
| NFC Champions | San Francisco 49ers |
| Super Bowl XVI | |
| Date | January 24, 1982 |
| Site | Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan |
| Champions | San Francisco 49ers |
| Pro Bowl | |
| Date | January 31, 1982 |
| Site | Aloha Stadium |
The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26–21 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.