{{Short description|2003 video game}} {{Infobox video game | image = ESPN NFL Football cover art.jpg | caption = North American cover art, featuring [[Warren Sapp]] | developer = [[Visual Concepts]] | publisher = [[Sega]] | series = ''[[NFL 2K]]'' | platforms = [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] | release = {{vgrelease|NA|September 2, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |last=IGN PS2 |date=2003-10-01 |title=Game of the Month: September 2003 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/01/game-of-the-month-september-2003 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en}}</ref>|AU|November 27, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |title=''ESPN NFL Football 2K4'' |url=http://gpstore.com.au/product.x?1457727 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031214010925/http://gpstore.com.au/product.x?1457727 |archive-date=December 14, 2003 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=[[Gameplanet]]}}</ref>|EU|November 28, 2003<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 Release Dates |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/release-dates.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031207144309/http://www.eurogamer.net/release-dates.php |archive-date=December 7, 2003 |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref>}} | genre = [[Sports video game|Sports]] ([[American football]]) | modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] }} '''''ESPN NFL Football''''' (alternatively known as '''''NFL 2K4''''') is a 2003 [[American football]] [[video game]] developed by [[Visual Concepts]] and published by [[Sega]] for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]. It is the fifth installment of Sega's ''[[NFL 2K]]'' series, although it does not use "2K" in the title and uses the name of sports cable network [[ESPN]]. The game was followed by ''[[ESPN NFL 2K5]]'' in 2004.

In line with other online-enabled games on the Xbox, multiplayer on [[Xbox Live]] was available to players until April 15, 2010. However, online play for ''ESPN NFL Football'' has since been restored on the replacement Xbox Live servers called [[Insignia (Xbox)|Insignia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xbox |first=Pure |date=2023-11-16 |title=Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement 'Insignia' Now Supports 150 Games |url=https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/11/xbox-live-1-0-replacement-insignia-now-supports-150-games |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Pure Xbox |language=en-GB |archive-date=2025-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119052021/https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/11/xbox-live-1-0-replacement-insignia-now-supports-150-games |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Insignia - ESPN NFL Football 2004 (NTSC) |url=https://insignia.live/games/53450022 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=insignia.live |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception== {{Video game reviews | align = left | PS2 = true | XBOX = true | na = true | EGM_PS2 = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1304464,00.asp |title=ESPN NFL Football (PS2) |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |issue=170 |date=September 2003 |page=125 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040101144631/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1304464,00.asp |archivedate=January 1, 2004 |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GI_PS2 = 9.25/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kato |first=Matthew |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D1631F23-FC04-4E32-B139-534E8418E7E5.htm |title=ESPN NFL Football (PS2) |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |publisher=[[GameStop]] |issue=125 |date=September 2003 |page=106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917094105/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/D1631F23-FC04-4E32-B139-534E8418E7E5.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GI_XBOX = 9.25/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=ESPN NFL Football (Xbox) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |issue=125 |date=September 2003 |page=117}}</ref> | GamePro_PS2 = 5/5<ref name=GamePro>{{cite magazine |author=Bro Buzz |date=September 2, 2003 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/30954.shtml |title=ESPN NFL Football |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG Entertainment]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204225429/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/30954.shtml |archivedate=February 4, 2005 |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GamePro_XBOX = 5/5<ref name=GamePro/> | GameRev_PS2 = B+<ref name=GameRev>{{cite web |last=Dodson |first=Joe |date=September 16, 2003 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/35788-espn-nfl-football-review |title=ESPN NFL Football Review |website=[[GameRevolution]] |publisher=[[CraveOnline]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012033719/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/espn-nfl-football |archivedate=October 12, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GameRev_XBOX = B+<ref name=GameRev/> | GSpot_PS2 = 9.3/10<ref name=GSpot>{{cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Ryan |date=September 4, 2003 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/espn-nfl-football-review/1900-6074606/ |title=ESPN NFL Football Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref> | GSpot_XBOX = 9.3/10<ref name=GSpot/> | GSpy_PS2 = 4/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Althof |first=Jeremy |date=September 22, 2003 |url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/espn-nfl-football/6190p1.html |title=GameSpy: ESPN NFL Football (PS2) |website=[[GameSpy]] |publisher=IGN Entertainment |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GSpy_XBOX = 4/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Althof |first=Jeremy |date=September 21, 2003 |url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/espn-nfl-football/6191p1.html |title=GameSpy: ESPN NFL Football (Xbox) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230001926/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/espn-nfl-football/6191p1.html |archivedate=December 30, 2005 |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GameZone_PS2 = 9.4/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Lafferty |first=Michael |date=September 11, 2003 |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/espn_nfl_football_ps2_review/ |title=ESPN NFL Football - PS2 - Review |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230220433/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22555.htm |archivedate=December 30, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | GameZone_XBOX = 9.2/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Surette |first=Tim |date=September 14, 2003 |url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/espn_nfl_football_xb_review/ |title=ESPN NFL Football - XB - Review |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514113253/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r22555.htm |archivedate=May 14, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | IGN_PS2 = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=September 5, 2003 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/05/espn-nfl-football |title=ESPN NFL Football (PS2) |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref> | IGN_XBOX = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Carle |first=Chris |date=September 4, 2003 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/04/espn-nfl-football-review |title=ESPN NFL Football Review (Xbox) |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref> | OPM_PS2 = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Baker |first=Chris |url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494047,00.asp |title=ESPN NFL Football |magazine=[[Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=72 |date=September 2003 |page=98 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627165823/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494047,00.asp |archivedate=June 27, 2004 |accessdate=April 27, 2020}}</ref> | OXM_XBOX = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=ESPN NFL Football |magazine=[[Official Xbox Magazine]] |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |date=October 2003 |page=73}}</ref> | rev1 = ''[[BBC Sport]]'' | rev1_PS2 = 87%<ref>{{cite web |last=Beevis |first=Paul |date=December 17, 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/game_reviews/3324979.stm |title=Let's play: ESPN NFL Football (PS2) |website=[[BBC Sport]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'' | rev2_PS2 = 4/5<ref name=Cincinnati>{{cite news |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |date=September 16, 2003 |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/091603_football.html |title=Football video game competition heats up on the field - and online |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104042424/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/091603_football.html |archivedate=November 4, 2007 |accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref> | rev2_XBOX = 4/5<ref name=Cincinnati/> | MC_PS2 = 91/100<ref name=MCPS2>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/espn-nfl-football/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=ESPN NFL Football for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref> | MC_XBOX = 91/100<ref name=MCXB>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/espn-nfl-football/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |title=ESPN NFL Football for Xbox Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref> }}

The game received "universal acclaim" on both platforms according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MCPS2/><ref name=MCXB/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' named it the best Xbox game of September 2003.<ref name=gotm>{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040205151139/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/100103/index.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/100103/index.html | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Month in Review: September 2003 | author=((The Editors of ''GameSpot'')) | date=October 1, 2003 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archivedate=February 5, 2004 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{clear}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{moby game|id=/espn-nfl-football}}

{{NFL 2K}}

[[Category:2003 video games]] [[Category:ESPN NFL video games]] [[Category:PlayStation 2 games]] [[Category:Sega video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Visual Concepts games]] [[Category:Xbox games]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]