1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
ConferenceIndependent
Record9–3
Head coach
CaptainEd Braceland
Home stadiumDelaware Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 Lafayette     9 2 0
No. 7 Delaware ^     9 3 0
No. 6 Tennessee State ^     9 3 0
Southeastern Louisiana     8 3 0
Lehigh     8 3 0
Nicholls State     5 5 1
Northwestern State     4 6 0
Bucknell     4 6 0
Northeastern     3 7 0
James Madison     3 8 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1981 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Delaware ended the regular season ranked No. 7 in the nation, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In their 16th year under head coach Tubby Raymond, the Hens compiled a 9–3 record (9–2 regular season). Ed Braceland was the team captain.

Starting the year on a three-game winning streak, the Hens were ranked No. 1 in the first two weeks of the weekly rankings. Though they dropped out of the top 10 in the middle of the year, a strong ending to the season saw them climb back to No. 7 in time to qualify for the eight-team playoff.

Delaware played its home games at Delaware Stadium on the university campus in Newark, Delaware.