NFL 2K1

NFL 2K1 is a single-player and multiplayer sports simulation game that recreates professional American football under the official National Football League license. Players can select from all 31 NFL teams of the 2000 season and guide them through individual games, a full season, or multi-year franchise campaigns, competing to reach and win the Super Bowl.

The game builds upon the structure of NFL 2K with several key improvements. Each team now makes use of its authentic playbook, offering a wider variety of offensive and defensive strategies that reflect real-world tendencies. The passing and running systems have been refined and defensive artificial intelligence improved. Over 2,000 motion-captured animations bring added realism to player movements, ranging from tackles and jukes to celebrations and sideline interactions.

Several modes provide different ways to play. Quick Play allows immediate entry into a single matchup, while Season mode follows a team through a complete NFL schedule. Franchise mode expands this with multiple years of play, incorporating roster management, drafts, and team-building decisions. A Practice mode gives players the opportunity to refine skills or test play designs. For deeper customization, the built-in Play Editor allows users to create and save unique offensive or defensive plays.

One of the most notable features of NFL 2K1 is its support for online multiplayer on the Dreamcast. Players can connect through SegaNet or compatible internet services to face opponents across the country, with leaderboards tracking results. Exhibition games and ranked competitions are supported, making it one of the first console football games to offer large-scale online play. Updated statistics and roster information could also be downloaded to keep teams current throughout the season.