---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to WIN the game, you must first…"
description: "\"In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.\" — Chuck Noll"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg"
---

#  In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.

![“In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.” quote by Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg)

> “In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.”

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Winning requires focusing on avoiding mistakes before seeking victory.

**In simple terms:** Don’t lose before you can win.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize defense and discipline.

Themes

strategy risk management competition

Mood

determined analytical

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- game planning
- training drills
- pre‑season preparation

Key Concepts

Game theory loss aversion preventive tactics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance caution with ambition?
- When does risk become necessary?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on avoiding loss can stifle aggression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/)

## Related quotes

> [Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/before-you-can-win-a-game-you-have-to-not-lose-it/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [I prefer to win a game and lose other 2 rather than draw 3 games. Both cases you get 3 points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/i-prefer-to-win-a-game-and-lose-other-2-rather-than-draw-3-games-both/)

[Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/)

> [We live in a world and a profession where you win a game, you lose the next one and you're deemed a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/we-live-in-a-world-and-a-profession-where-you-win-a-game-you-lose-the/)

[Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/)

> [Don't ever play with someone's feelings. You might win the game but you could lose the person forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/don-t-ever-play-with-someone-s-feelings-you-might-win-the-game-but/)

[Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/)

> [The best way to win a game is not to lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erk-russell/the-best-way-to-win-a-game-is-not-to-lose-it/)

[Erk Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erk-russell/)

> [Love is like a game,when you lose just try again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delves-amion/love-is-like-a-game-when-you-lose-just-try-again/)

Delves Amion

> [Every game that you lose it hurts, but especially when you lead 2-1, and you lose 4-2.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-lloris/every-game-that-you-lose-it-hurts-but-especially-when-you-lead-2-1/)

[Hugo Lloris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-lloris/)

> [You always have to knock down shots in order to win big-time games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-williams/you-always-have-to-knock-down-shots-in-order-to-win-big-time-games/)

[Jay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-williams/)

> [I'm up under Nick Saban. I know how its supposed to be. What it's supposed to look like in order for you to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamarcus-russell/i-m-up-under-nick-saban-i-know-how-its-supposed-to-be-what-it-s/)

[JaMarcus Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamarcus-russell/)

> [“In order to win you have got to risk losing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hunt-davis/in-order-to-win-you-have-got-to-risk-losing/)

[Ben Hunt-Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hunt-davis/)

> [“In order to win at life, you have to have more audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-baker/in-order-to-win-at-life-you-have-to-have-more-audacity/)

[Robin S. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-baker/)

> [Winning's not easy. In order to win, you've got to see the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/winning-s-not-easy-in-order-to-win-you-ve-got-to-see-the-best/)

[Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/)

> [But sometimes, in order to win, you have to make sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-sometimes-in-order-to-win-you-have-to-make-sacrifices/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [In order to win, you must expect to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/in-order-to-win-you-must-expect-to-win/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

> [In order to win, you must be fully charged. To be fully charged, you must have gas in your tank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-addison/in-order-to-win-you-must-be-fully-charged-to-be-fully-charged-you/)

[John Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-addison/)

## More by Chuck Noll

> [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/a-life-of-frustration-is-inevitable-for-any-coach-whose-main/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [Some coaches pray for wisdom. I pray for 260-pound tackles. They'll give me plenty of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/some-coaches-pray-for-wisdom-i-pray-for-260-pound-tackles-they-ll/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [I've always avoided publicity. I've never been good copy at any stage of my life. I don't strive for it, because I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-ve-always-avoided-publicity-i-ve-never-been-good-copy-at-any-stage/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [It's not pleasant when you lose your whole football team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/it-s-not-pleasant-when-you-lose-your-whole-football-team/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [“Leaving the game plan is a sign of panic, and panic is not in our game plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/leaving-the-game-plan-is-a-sign-of-panic-and-panic-is-not-in-our-game/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [The thrill isn't in the winning, it's in the doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/the-thrill-isn-t-in-the-winning-it-s-in-the-doing/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [The key to a winning season is focusing on one opponent at a time. Winning one week at a time. Never look back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/the-key-to-a-winning-season-is-focusing-on-one-opponent-at-a-time/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [I used to tell the players that professional football is a part-time profession. I used to tell them it gets you ready for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-used-to-tell-the-players-that-professional-football-is-a-part-time/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [Mamas, don't let your sons grow up to be Cowboys... or Oilers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/mamas-don-t-let-your-sons-grow-up-to-be-cowboys-or-oilers/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [I can't tell you how much you gain, how much progress you can make, by working together as a team, by helping one another.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-can-t-tell-you-how-much-you-gain-how-much-progress-you-can-make-by/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [On every team, there is a core group that sets the tone for everyone else. If the tone is positive, you have half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/on-every-team-there-is-a-core-group-that-sets-the-tone-for-everyone/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [As you gain experience, you mature as an individual, and along with that comes the confidence that you have the ability to solve problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/as-you-gain-experience-you-mature-as-an-individual-and-along-with/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [Pressure is what you feel when you don't know what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/pressure-is-what-you-feel-when-you-don-t-know-what-s-going-on/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

> [Some citizens are so good that nothing a leader can do will make them better. Others are so incorrigible that nothing can be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/some-citizens-are-so-good-that-nothing-a-leader-can-do-will-make-them/)

[Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

[Explore all 39 Chuck Noll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/)

## More Firsts quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/)

[A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/)

> [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/)

[Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/)

[Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/)

> [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/)

[Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chuck Noll"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first-not-lose-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Firsts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first-not-lose-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b48/chuck-noll-16724_firsts_in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first_3222329.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In order to WIN the game, you must first not LOSE it.” — Chuck Noll",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chuck Noll",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In order to WIN the game,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first-not-lose-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/in-order-to-win-the-game-you-must-first-not-lose-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
