I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.

Holtz frames defeat not as a career-ending verdict but as a formative requirement. The line assumes that success can insulate people from self-scrutiny, while failure forces a clearer audit of preparation, decision-making, and resilience. By saying “everyone should experience” it, he treats loss as a universal teacher that builds humility and adaptability—traits especially prized in competitive environments like athletics and leadership. The quote’s significance lies in its reversal of the usual stigma around losing: defeat becomes a structured feedback mechanism that can deepen character and improve future performance, provided one reflects and adjusts rather than rationalizes or quits.