The 1978 Brown Bears football team was an American football team that represented Brown University during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Brown tied for second place in the Ivy League. In their fourth season under head coach John Anderson, the Bears compiled a 6–3 record and outscored opponents 189 to 165. N. Jacob and M. Whipple were the team captains. The Bears' 6–3 conference record tied for second-best in the Ivy League standings. They outscored Ivy opponents 155 to 123. Brown played its home games at Brown Stadium in Providence, Rhode Island.