1971 in football

American football

 * 24 October – death of Chuck Hughes, Detroit Lions wide receiver
 * Super Bowl V – Baltimore Colts won 16–13 over the Dallas Cowboys
 * 25 December – The Miami Dolphins defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in a divisional playoff game. The double-overtime contest is the longest game in NFL history, and the Chiefs' last-ever home game at Municipal Stadium.
 * Orange Bowl (1970 season):
 * The Nebraska Cornhuskers won 17-12 over the Louisiana State Tigers to win the AP Poll national championship after the previous #1 Texas Longhorns lost in the Cotton Bowl and the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes lost in the Rose Bowl.