The 1940 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent in the 1940 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Charley Bowser, the Panthers compiled a record of 3–4–1.

Charles W. Bowser was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Grove City College from 1924 to 1926, at Bowdoin College from 1930 to 1934, and at the University of Pittsburgh from 1939 to 1942, compiling a career college football record of 40–47–6.