| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Plymouth State Panthers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | New England Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | NEFC |
| Record: | 9–1 |
| Conf Record: | 9–0 |
| Head Coach: | Jay Cottone |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Charlie Currier |
| Oc Year: | 8th |
| Def Coach: | Lou Desloges |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Stadium: | Panther Field |
| Champion: | NEFC champion |
The 1981 Plymouth State Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Plymouth State University as a member of the New England Football Conference (NEFC) during the 1981 NCAA Division III football season. In their first year under head coach Jay Cottone, the Panthers compiled a 9–1 record (9–0 against NEFC opponents), won the NEFC championship, outscored opponents by a total of 239 to 57,[1] and recorded a defensive shut out in half of the team's games.
The team was led by quarterback Kevin Bradley who finished the season with 835 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
This season was the team's first-ever conference title.[2] [3]
The team played its home games at Panther Field in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
After former head coach Jim Aguiar resigned in April 1981, Plymouth State hired former Norwich offensive coordinator and backfield coach Jay Cottone as the team's next head football coach.[4]