NFL Head Coach (2006) Retrospective

NFL Head Coach, released in 2006 and commonly referred to as "NFL Head Coach 06", is basically Madden 05's franchise mode, but somehow even deeper. It's a niche game that I'm surprised EA made, but I'm glad they did. It's rarely discussed, which is why I think it's criminally underrated.

#retrospective #SOFTDRINKTV #game #review #sdtv

[WolfmanLewis]

Still play this game and have a series going much respect for showing it love ✌

[CobraAquinas]

FUN FACT I was #1 ranked online on this when i was a kid lmao. I ran the triple option with the colts. The game had some flaw where because manning had 99 awareness he could run for 7 yard carries on the regular. Xplosiv Diarreah or something immature to that affect was my GT. No one really played online so It didn't take many games to get there. BUT i was #1 at something in my life lol. Edit: ( it was head coach 09 not this one)

[mikeym]

This is what Bill O’Brien thought he was playing

[OpnUrEyez]

Hey look in practice mode they’re actually wearing practice gear instead of FULL GAMEDAY ATTIRE 🙄

[AndreTheGiant]

I ALMOST wish this game could come back....but EA would mess it up. I loved this game. You had to have patience to play this game

[MacoRLCCC]

It's sad to see that games from 2006 have more depth and actual football physics then a modernized Madden game.

[KeanBurke]

14 years later I finally understand what this game is about.

[BlackFlagsMatter]

I love NFL Head coach. Still have both copies to this day. I was the weird kid who loved the series, wish they'd continue this series but it's not ultimate team so nah lmao.

[SJH]

If there was a Football Manager style NFL game that would be the dream. That series is so great and has so much depth

[napalmblaziken]

I remember when I played this. I traded for David Carr to be the QB of the Dolphins. Don't judge me, it worked.

[DVRKKNIGHT]

I never realized the madden games from the mid 2000's even have more realistic running ai than the newer ones smh

[Datruth]

Absolutely agree. I played this game at a time in my life when I actually coached football. It was almost as real as a video game could be about coaching. A couple of thing hurt it if I remember things correctly. First, it came out deep in the off-season when no one was thinking about football, 2. Madden had a great franchise mode that satisfied most people, NCAA existed and was a formidable game itself, and most people want to be the players not the coaches.
I stopped playing because I found it too easy. As long as you participated in everything and tried hard you would win. I never lost a game and never had an injury. Maybe the base settings allowed that but if I simulated games I would get tons of injuries and actually lose games. But I wanted to call the plays and when I did, I won. Who knows, maybe I missed my calling, but I think the game was flawed in that way. Otherwise it was a phenomenal game!!!

[LonghornsLegend]

This game was so legendary and all it does is frustrate me at how bare bones franchise mode is now. This game just shows what a football sim should be like, and is like when EA actually tries. Weird how the stronger and more powerful the consoles got, the worse franchise mode got and the less features we got.

[iandonaghue]

I played this game for so many hours back in the PS2 days. I still remember coaching the Eagles for 19 seasons, because that was when the last remaining players from the original game had retired, and only randomly generated players were left (I think Robbie Gould and Nate Kaeding were the last two). I also remember creating a play on defense where both cornerbacks blitzed, and Sheldon Brown ended up winning DPOY with 12 sacks my first season. Good times.

[VoyshVoysh]

NFL Head Coach was amazing. I loved playing it and building my own dynasty. It really put you on the hot seat and made you become an expert scout, play designer, and team builder.

[fazeboog]

Eyyy I’ve been waiting for this vid for a while! I just love depth in football sim games!

[rabbitofdeth]

My dad bought me this as a kid, and I could never figure it out. But looking back at it at the age of 25, I really appreciate EA making this game. It has more quality to offer than the new titles.

[cyrusrule]

I need this game in my life, I started playing madden with 17 and all I want is an immersive coaching experience. Also, it would be really cool if 2k made something like this.

Thanks for the vid

[bernhard]

MLB Front Office Manager was highly underrated as well.

[yakuastro]

I played this a bit when it first came out and I remember being so shocked by how detailed the game was. This was franchise mode was supposed to be and I wished they could have took some of these and kept building on it and adding it to future Madden games. I hope you do the NFL Head Coach 09 too