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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
NFL Head Coach
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 14 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Tiburon
Genre(s): Sports Management Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: June 20, 2006
Summary
NFL Head Coach reinvents football gaming by introducing the first 3D strategy sports game that challenges gamers to build and manage every aspect of a football team from the ground up. A simple conversation system and an engaging 3D graphical interface allow users to immerse themselves into the lives of an NFL head coach. As head coach, you develop a team strategy, execute it on and off the field, and try to build a winning organization year after year. Your status as a coaching legend will rise and fall based on all of your actions as you strive to become the greatest head coach of all time. Behind the desk, on the practice field, or while wearing the headset on game days, take the reins of your favorite NFL team and lead it to victory. [Electronic Arts]
Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Digital Entertainment News
It’s not perfect, it’s not available on next-gen systems, but for control freaks, it may be the most exhaustively complete sports SIM ever released on a console.
Read Full Review >Cheat Code Central
When Head Coach hits, it slams it out of the ballpark. Excellent structure and balance in the practice periods before game day ensure that you take your time and prepare extensively, while tasks at the front office put you in control of every aspect of the franchise.
Read Full Review >PGNx Media
Basically, all of the micromanagement parts of the game will make fans gush with excitement.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
It is nice to see EA Sports use their license for something a bit different.
Read Full Review >Detroit Free Press
EA Sports is best known for its other monster football game, "Madden NFL." But where "Madden" lets you control real-life players and plays on the field, "Head Coach" takes you behind the action, putting you in the Gatorade-scented shoes of a coach you create from scratch.
Read Full Review >IGN
As it stands, NFL Head Coach will appeal to die-hard fantasy football fanatics and Madden franchise mode junkies, and to little else. Still, that's all EA ever wanted.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Still, while Head Coach is ultimately an imperfect football-management simulation, it is also, almost in spite of itself, a frequently fun one. Those with a penchant for serious football management are most certainly going to find things to like about it.
Read Full Review >Gamers' Temple
So I was interested to find out if my enjoyment for football overcame my disinterest in strategic games. Well in my case the micromanagement aspect was just too much for me to overcome.
Read Full Review >Gamezilla!
An excellent first attempt. There are a number of tweaks that will improve the gameplay if it’s turned into a series and it has plenty of potential.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Overall, the unique approach of NFL Head Coach makes this game a smart pick for football freaks and sports gamers looking to add some analytical and intellectual flavor to their library.
Read Full Review >Gamer 2.0
It takes a hell of a long time to complete one season in this game, and it takes a lot longer with the PS2’s load times.
Read Full Review >Games Radar (in-house)
Chances are that NFL Head Coach won’t cure your football jones unless heavy-duty statistical simulators are up your alley.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
Even though you are the coach in this game, you're still little more than a bystander. [Aug 2006, p.84]
GameZone
If I had to give advice to the development team, it would be to allow players more freedom in the off-season. Only allowing them two things to do between idiotic load screens is awful.
Read Full Review >Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
The depth to which NFL Head Coach goes to simulate its world is impressive. Pigskin fanatics will love it, but if I want stress and boredom, I think I'll stick with my day job. [Aug 2006, p.79]
GameSpy
Playing NFL Head Coach and having a good time while doing so is a daunting task, one far more challenging than taking the Browns to the Super Bowl.
Read Full Review >ZTGameDomain
NFL head coach takes a bold leap and attempts to start something well needed in the sports simulation field, change. Unfortunately, it falters in more aspects than it flies, with horrible AI, and an in game system that makes the game feel like more of a chore than a fun experience.
Read Full Review >PSM Magazine
If football action is more your thing stick to "Madden". [Sep 2006, p.88]
My Gamer
It falters in more aspects than it flies, with horrible AI, and an in game system that makes the game feel like more of a chore than a fun experience.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
There’s something decidedly satisfying seeing your hard work and meticulous planning pay off with a trip to the Super Bowl. But that trip is fraught with so many pitfalls – the most annoying being the rigid scheduling issues – that you’ll need superhuman patience to see it through to the end.
Read Full Review >eToychest
NFL head Coach is obviously targeted toward a very niche group of extreme football enthusiasts, but the game, such as it is, has been made into such a laborious, oftentimes arduous affair that even the target audience is likely to be turned away.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
The load times between each task are inexcusable, but worse yet are the games themselves, which you barely have to orchestrate.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 14 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Tony C. gave it a10:
A revolutionary game of its time...a game that could help coaches reinforce how they want their players to be coached in specific ways, with flexible draft ratings, and board room meetings with other coaches. A game that also allowed innovation of created plays, personality type, and other things. A bit slow, but really ahead of its time. It just needed to clean up a few things, like speed, but other than that, it was a great game.
Josh C. gave it a0:
This game doesnt even get a "1",.... Do not make the same mistake I made by purchasing this boring game, thats all i have to say about that.
Big D. gave it an8:
This is a very addicting game if you like these types of games. There is no action for you in the game at all, but if you are buying this, and know an ounce about football, you should expect that. You are the head coach in this game, not a player. I love this game, and love the idea. I only gave it an 8 because they could have done better with what you are allowed to do. The schedule is so limited in you being able to arrange your scehdule, it's almost pointless to have it there, and motivation factor is quite random, why would a running back or quarterback get upset when you tell him he did a good job after running a touchdown? There are a few other quirks, but I'm sure if EA chooses to make this game every year like their other franchise games we will see the options improve drastically. If you like the offseason stuff in Madden, you'll love NFL Head Coach
Musha S. gave it a1:
This is quite possibly the worst "game" I have ever played. Take away all the gameplay from madden and add some more menus and spreadsheets and you have this pile of crap. Even if you like the idea of making decisions, this is too much and there is no reward for doing well. Absolute rubbish. Not even worth the bandwidth used to download.
Frank T. gave it a3:
Neat Idea; however, not delivered very well. Downloads take way too long to make this title enjoyable. Not worth it. You will be bored.
Andrew C. gave it a9:
It was an 8.5, but I rounded up. If you're expecting Madden reincarrnated, do NOT buy this game. It's tedious at times, but definitely hands-on and the best football sim out there.
