1981 San Jose State Spartans football team
The 1981 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. The team was led by head coach Jack Elway, in his third year at San Jose State. They played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.
The Spartans finished the 1981 season as champions of the PCAA, with a record of nine wins and three losses. As a result, the Spartans qualified for the initial California Bowl vs. the Mid-American Conference champion Toledo Rockets. This was the second postseason appearance for the Spartans since they moved to Division I-A. The game was played at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, with Toledo prevailing 25–27.
In December, offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson was hired as the head coach at Idaho in the Big Sky Conference, but still coached in theSchedule
Team players in the NFL
The following were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team |
| Gerald Willhite | Running back | 1 | 21 | Denver Broncos |
| Stacey Bailey | Wide receiver | 3 | 63 | Atlanta Falcons |
The following finished their college career in 1981, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.
