Re: "I coulda been a contender" : : What does the famous quote from On the Waterfront 'I coulda been a contender' mean? : It means something like 'I could have been a champion (boxer I think, in the context) or at least I could have been in contention for the championship.' I think. : DFG Yes, the Terry character (Marlon Brando) was a boxer. His brother Charlie (Rod Steiger) had once told him to take a dive (lose the fight on purpose) so some mobsters could make money betting on the other guy. Terry realizes he's too old to be a boxer anymore and he's just "a bum", and he confronts his brother. One of the most famous scenes of one of the best movies of all time.