Marv Levy Quotes

Powerful Marv Levy for Daily Growth

About Marv Levy

Marvin Louis "Marv" Levy (born January 13, 1942) is an American football coach who served as the head coach of the National Football League's (NFL) Buffalo Bills from 1986 to 1997. Known for his intellectual approach and innovative strategies, Levy has left a significant impact on the game of football. Born in New York City, Levy grew up in Queens, where he developed a passion for sports, particularly baseball and football. He attended Queens College (QC), where he played baseball and football, eventually earning the nickname "Brain" due to his intelligence and football acumen. After graduating from QC, Levy pursued a career in teaching and coaching at various high schools in New York before moving up to college level. In 1970, Levy began his professional career as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins under Don Shula, where he would spend the next decade honing his skills. In 1986, Levy was hired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and over the next eleven seasons, he transformed the team into one of the most competitive in the league. Under Levy's leadership, the Bills reached the Super Bowl four times (1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994) but were unable to secure a victory, ultimately becoming known as "The Team of the '90s." After retiring from coaching in 1997, Levy has remained involved in football through various roles, including as a broadcaster, consultant, and occasional assistant coach. In 2001, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, cementing his place in the annals of football history. Levy's influence on the game extends beyond his coaching career, as he is often credited with popularizing the use of situational statistics and advanced scouting techniques, and for fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity among his players and staff. His legacy continues to inspire coaches and football enthusiasts alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You're never a loser until you quit trying."

This quote emphasizes that failure or loss is not definitive until one stops striving or making an effort. In other words, as long as one continues to persevere in the face of challenges or setbacks, they are not considered a "loser." The spirit of this quote lies in its encouragement to keep trying and never give up on one's aspirations, even in the face of difficulties.


"The only limits are those we set ourselves."

This quote emphasizes personal empowerment and the belief that our potential is not bound by external factors, but rather by our own self-imposed limitations. It encourages individuals to push beyond perceived boundaries and strive for greater achievements. Essentially, it suggests that if we dare to dream bigger and work harder, there's no limit to what we can achieve.


"It's not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."

This quote emphasizes that having a desire to win is common, but what truly sets successful individuals apart is their dedication to preparing thoroughly for victory. Winning isn't just about wanting it more than others; it's about the hard work, strategy, and knowledge gained through meticulous preparation that ultimately leads to success.


"Success is never final, failure is never fatal: It's courage that counts."

This quote by Marv Levy emphasizes the importance of courage in the face of success or failure. The phrase "success is never final" means that even the greatest achievements are not permanent, and should not be considered as the end goal. Similarly, "failure is never fatal" suggests that a single defeat does not signify the end, and one can always learn and grow from mistakes. The core message of the quote is that courage - the ability to face challenges despite the outcome - is what truly defines us in our pursuit of goals or success. This implies that we should not be overly elated by success nor overly disheartened by failure, but rather view each as a stepping stone towards future endeavors.


"Every game is a test and you either pass or fail—and if you pass one test, you immediately face another test."

Marv Levy's quote emphasizes that life and challenges are continuous and progressional, with each experience serving as an evaluation of our abilities and growth. By successfully overcoming one challenge, we gain the opportunity to encounter new ones, demonstrating that personal development is a lifelong journey. The quote serves as motivation to learn, adapt, and persevere through hardships, recognizing that each hurdle presents an opportunity for self-improvement and growth.


In Buffalo, you can't imagine how much people revere Fred Jackson because of his high character, his community involvement, coming from a Division III school.

- Marv Levy

Community, Buffalo, Imagine, III

For a long time, I was an assistant in the NFL to George Allen, and George was paranoid that other teams were cheating on him... that they were offering bounties, that they were wiring our locker room, that they were putting food poisoning into the pregame meal of the other team's stars, stuff like that.

- Marv Levy

Other, Allen, Putting, Cheating

I never have suspected or sensed a whiff of cheating in any of our Super Bowls.

- Marv Levy

Never, Super, Suspected, Cheating

My father was an athlete, a great athlete, fought in the Marines in World War I. He was all sports and activity. My mother was all academics. I still have the complete works of Shakespeare that she had.

- Marv Levy

World War I, Still, Works, Marines

I've always been entranced by writing.

- Marv Levy

Writing, Always, Been, Entranced

When I first started reading poetry, all the poets I read - Edgar Allan Poe, Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Greenleaf Whittier - were rhyme poets. That's what captured me.

- Marv Levy

Reading, Read, Poe, Edgar

If you say you plan to retire in two or three years, you've already retired.

- Marv Levy

Plan, Say, Retired, Retire

The age factor means nothing to me. I'm old enough to know my limitations and I'm young enough to exceed them.

- Marv Levy

Young, Old, Means, Exceed

Age is inevitable. Aging isn't.

- Marv Levy

Age, Inevitable, Aging

I was enamored with Charles Dickens as a kid, and his names blew me away.

- Marv Levy

Names, Away, His, Blew

Whenever I think of baseball, the first name that comes to mind is Babe Ruth. What the Babe was to baseball, Shula is to football coaching. There are certain figures in sports who are larger than the games they play or coach, and Don Shula is one of those.

- Marv Levy

Play, Larger, Ruth, None

I exercise, walk a lot, and break into the occasional trot. I also lift weights three days a week, and I like to read about what makes a good diet. Overall, I do follow a healthy lifestyle.

- Marv Levy

Exercise, Week, About, Weights

I took all the courses you would need to be able to go to law school. But my experience in college with football made me want to go into coaching.

- Marv Levy

College, Courses, Took, Law School

I went off to Harvard Law School for six weeks, and then I said, 'Doggone this, it's not what I want to do.' I remember when I told my dad I was leaving law school, and I wanted to go into football. He said, 'Be a good coach.'

- Marv Levy

I Remember, Weeks, Dad, Law School

You adhere to a philosophy, but part of the philosophy I have is that I don't want to be too doggone inflexible that I miss a good player.

- Marv Levy

Philosophy, Want, Part, Adhere

I'm about 75 pages into a book on poetry. I don't know if anybody wants to read it. It's on any broad variety of subjects. I walk down the street and think of a topic and jot it down and say, 'Okay, that's another one.' They go from the humorous to the serious to every topic imaginable.

- Marv Levy

Book, Another, Anybody, Humorous

When I was twelve, I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. He was laying there and something struck me. Why do we call this fun to kill this creature who was as happy as I was when I woke up this morning.

- Marv Levy

Father, Happy, Woke, Struck

Absolutely everything undergoes evolvement - whether it's technology, journalism, the NFL, medicine.

- Marv Levy

NFL, Whether, Absolutely, Journalism

Chronological age is only an approximation of your functional age.

- Marv Levy

Only, Your, Functional, Approximation

I just want people to finish the book and say, 'I was entertained.' When I set out to do it, I had no deal in place. I knew it would be tough. I read somewhere that John Steinbeck was turned down 22 times on his first novel. But I was just going to do it.

- Marv Levy

Book, Deal, Turned, Entertained

I don't remember Bill Walsh being old. I remember young Bill Walsh. He wasn't gray-haired, and neither was I when we first met. His legacy will live on. Bill Walsh's name and his accomplishments will be remembered and revered so long as the great game of football is played.

- Marv Levy

Legacy, Game, I Remember, Accomplishments

People sometimes ask me to name the greatest coach in NFL history. George Halas may have set the standard, but Don Shula has won more games than anyone, and he has done it in the most competitive era. He had an incomparable ability to evaluate players, to motivate them, and to teach them the game of football.

- Marv Levy

Game, Sometimes, Standard, Motivate

If I had coached in high school for 60 years, I would have loved it. Getting to the top was not a goal. I welcomed the opportunities, but I just believed do the best doggone job you can, and good things will happen.

- Marv Levy

Best, Had, Coached, Good Things

If there's age discrimination - and there may be - I've always felt that the person who discriminates is hurt more than the person being discriminated against, if the second person shucks it off and moves forward.

- Marv Levy

More, Always, May, Discrimination

I'm hoping to get started on a new novel.

- Marv Levy

New, Get, Hoping, Novel

I did a lot of studying of great writers. I read that Hemingway rewrote 'The Sun Also Rises' 39 times.

- Marv Levy

Studying, Read, Also, Rises

I am going to miss Don Shula. I like him, and I admire him. I'm going to miss looking those 53 yards across the field and thinking, 'There is a coaching legend.'

- Marv Levy

Legend, Like, Going, Coaching

I don't know exactly what are you supposed to do when you retire. Lie on the couch and do nothing? I didn't want to do that.

- Marv Levy

Lie, Want, Nothing, Retire

Experience should be a plus as long as it doesn't become complacency. If you say, 'We're not going to change; we didn't do it that way before,' then you've become too old.

- Marv Levy

Old, Going, Before, Plus

Teaching is very important. The nature of your personality isn't that important. Lombardi was very extraverted, very bombastic. Landry very quiet, reserved. Both were great teachers and great coaches.

- Marv Levy

Nature, Very, Great Teachers, Coaches

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