1981 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season

The 1981 St. Louis Cardinals season was the franchise's 22nd season in St. Louis and the 62nd in the National Football League. The Cardinals finished the strike-shortened season with a 7-9 record, finishing third in the NFC East. It was Jim Hanifan's second full season as head coach.

The season was divided into two separate parts due to a player's strike that lasted from weeks 3-10. The Cardinals went 1-2 in the first portion of the season. Upon resumption of play, the team improved, going 6-7, but failed to qualify for the expanded 16-team playoff tournament, which featured the top eight teams from each conference after the labor dispute concluded. The season was marked by inconsistency on offense, and despite a defense that ranked in the middle of the league, the team struggled to win close games. Quarterback Neil Lomax continued his development, but the running game remained a challenge. The Cardinals failed to significantly improve upon their 1980 record of 5-11. Key players for the Cardinals during the season included Lomax, running back Ottis Anderson, and defensive end Curtis Greer.