1981 Washington Redskins season

1981 was the Washington Redskins franchise's 50th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 44th in Washington, D.C. The team improved on their 6–10 record from 1980, finishing 8–8, but would miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. This was Joe Gibbs' first season as head coach. The team slumped early, losing its first 5 games before defeating the Chicago Bears 24–7 at Soldier Field; they would then lose to the Miami Dolphins to sit at 1–6.

Washington would do better in the second half, winning their next 4 games to reach 5–6 and looking like they were going to make the playoffs. However, losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills eliminated them from postseason contention. The team would win its final 3 games to end the season at 8–8, including a close victory at RFK Stadium against the defending NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.