| Year: | 1881 |
| Team: | Dartmouth |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 1–0–1 |
| Head Coach: | None |
| Captain: | Clarence Howland |
| Prev Year: | none |
The 1881 Dartmouth football team represented Dartmouth College in the 1881 college football season, the first time in school history that a chosen squad represented the school intercollegiately. Dartmouth compiled a record of 1–0–1.