His Bronco days started in 1976. During the past four years, Antonopulos oversaw the Broncos training and medical treatment from on high, leaving Vince Garcia in charge of the day-to-day responsibilities. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. A motto for Antonopulos was Defend My Desk., When a new owner or coach was hired, he said: They come in and have 100 things going on and what they dont need is somebody trying to make an appointment and promote themselves. What is your favorite memory of the Broncos long-time head trainer? "As a proud native Coloradoan, Greek loved the Broncos and gave everything he had to the job, arriving most days before 4:30 a.m. and keeping that same passion throughout his entire career. He has the respect of the players that he has cared for over the years, and that is the reason many of them will call to ask his advice even after they have left the organization. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. FILE - Denver Broncos trainer Steve Antonopulos, center, talks with staff members during drills at the team's NFL football training camp in Englewood, Colo., in this July 19, 2019, file photo. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is. Ill always be a Bronco.. He was a fixture on our sidelines for the greatest moments in team history, the first person running on the field to care for an injured player and the one who supported them through every step of their recovery. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Steve Antonopulos, known as "Greek," has retired from his position as athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Allen called me the first week of July. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie quarterback in 1983 and spent well over two decades with the franchise himself, has joked that Antonopulos was with the Broncos before the orange and blue in the uniforms. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. As a proud native Coloradoan, Greek loved the Broncos and gave everything he had to the job, arriving most days before 4:30 a.m. and keeping that same passion throughout his entire career. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. It wasnt really an injury. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Of . An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. but it can also be stressful. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? He got $26.4 million without playing a down for the Colts last year 32 percent more than his first-year salary with the Broncos. The doctor that gave him the physical was Arthur Pappas, one of the Red Sox owners, and he took us over to Fenway Park and I still have the picture of John and myself at home plate. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. Six of Pat Bowlen's children and presenter Steve Antonopulos at the longtime Broncos owner's inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. "Steve has been an institution with the Broncos for the last 45 years and became one of the most respected athletic training professionals in all of sports," Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. A Hugo, Colorado, native, Antonopulos began his career with the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Greek received both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, and began his athletic trainer career at Fort Hays State University in Kansas in 1973, working there until 1976. Antonopulos forged strong relationships with coaches and players alike and had a particularly close bond with late owner Pat Bowlen, who bought the Broncos in 1984. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. I love my job. Smith runs second-fastest 40 by DL since 03, Saleh compares Carr to Stafford pre-Rams trade, Allen to be ready to roll for offseason program, How to maximize leverage of No. Take a quick 30-second survey to help us deliver the best content around NFL & College Football. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. Once I get up to Denver and visit with the team doctors, they can check out my knee and do all of that, and then we can go from there. He was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. I have never had a day that I dreaded coming to work. The elation and what historically happened there for the Broncos was unbelievable., The old Kingdome in Seattle was a great place because of the crowd noise and it was a good place to travel. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. There is another player meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. Post practice treatments follow until we are done at approximately 6 p.m. On game day, Greek arrives very early as well. The players arrive for treatment at 6:30 a.m., and the player meetings start around 8:15 a.m. We have long-term rehabs while players are in meetings. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. The weather was awful. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. "A great, great guy, as well as a great ambassador.". During an interview with The Denver Post, retiring Broncos director of sports medicine Steve Greek Antonopulos was asked for his favorite memories since joining the team in 1976: In October 1977, the Broncos traveled to face the defending Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders, who had won 17 consecutive games dating back to the previous season. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. His physical was first thing in the morning. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise, As Broncos wrap up stay at NFL Combine, busy offseason of change churns toward free agency, draft, Broncos check in No. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. ", Broncos coach Vic Fangio said following Monday's OTA practice: "45 years of service to one organization is unheard of in the NFL, and that speaks volumes to his competency and the value he brought to this organization over such a long period of time.". Antonopulos joined the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976, became head athletic trainer in 1981 and was promoted to the role of director of sports medicine in 2016. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. He depended on him for help recovering from injuries, advice on health concerns when evaluating players and, often, simply the friendship that they cultivated over . Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. You have the passion to do it. He had a fear of flying. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos in a move CEO Joe Ellis called a no-brainer given his long run with the franchise. Antonopulos and his wife, Susan, have a blended family of five kids and seven grandkids and will split their time between homes in Limon., and Tucson, Ariz., and driving their RV to visit family. Rainy. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. The Moving can be an exciting experience. The Drive was so special. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. In July 2016, Antonopulos began the road to retirement when he took on a new role and Vince Garcia was promoted to head athletic trainer. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. San Diego: Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos glances at the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the locker during the post-game celebration. In July 2016, Antonopulos began the road to retirement when he took on a new role and Vince Garcia was promoted to head athletic trainer. (Kicker) Jim Turner caught a (25-yard) touchdown pass on a fake field goal (from holder Norris Weese) and (linebacker) Tom Jackson went over and gave the bird to (coach) John Madden. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. He had a fear of flying. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. At the moment it is week-by-week. I am an early person, and I learned years ago I need some time by myself before anyone gets here. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. His physical was first thing in the morning. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. As a proud native Coloradoan, Greek loved the Broncos and gave everything he had to the job, arriving most days before 4:30 a.m. and keeping that same passion throughout his entire career. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. The Drive was so special. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. I have always respected the fact that Steve is the kind of person that will look you in the eye and tell you what he is thinking and commit to his word. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. In addition to praising fifth-year veteran Jarek Crick, Kubiak also said that the team expectsa lot of Adam Gotsis, who is less than ten months away from tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. The livelihood of their families depend on the high body performance. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. What a run. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Ill always be a Bronco.. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! Professional football players endure incessant chronic pain in the playing days and beyond. In this job, Ive always tried to give all I can as a father and grandfather, but its hard because your time is so confined, he said. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. Rather respecting them in their most important roles as sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands. He was a fixture on our sidelines for the greatest moments in team history, the first person running on the field to care for an injured player and the one who supported them through every step of their recovery. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. As he would watch games with his father and neighbors, he would say to himself, Someday, somehow, someway, Im going to work for the Denver Broncos.. Greek in his own words,as told to the Board of Certification for Athletic Trainers: The worst part of the job is seeing players devastated by being injured. Not a member? He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. They required him to go there for a physical. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. Steve Greek Antonopulos, the only person to work for the Broncos during each of their eight Super Bowl appearances, announced Monday he is retiring after 45 seasons of service. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. Odds & lines subject to change. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. All three are full training camp participants. I love the challenges that are presented each day. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Then in 1996 he received National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) Athletic Trainer Service Award, and in 2006 Greek was given the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. Antonopulos, whose office was routinely owner Pat Bowlen's first stop each morning when Bowlen arrived to work, is the longest-tenured employee in the franchise's history and is the only employee to have been with the Broncos for each of the team's eight Super Bowl trips. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. There are a hundred athletic trainers currently employed in the NFL and the average salary for those trainers is about $75,000, a figure that can rise to $100,000 depending on experience. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. He closed the door and he went nuts again. He was a fixture on our sidelines for the greatest moments in team history, the first person running on the field to care for an injured player and the one who supported them through every step of their recovery. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.. Broncos long time trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires, Horse Tracks: Potential Broncos Cap Casualties in 2023, 3 players the Broncos should consider cutting to make more cap room for the 2023 free agent class. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Elways competitive drive helped him work through the mental challenges of rehabilitation. His influence on this franchise, the athletic training profession and throughout sports is far-reaching, mentoring countless interns and staff who went on to accomplish great things. View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". "the Greek" and considered by many of his peers as tops in his profession, has worked for coaches Red Miller, Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips and Mike Shanahan as the Bronco. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. Denver will rename the training room at UCHealth Training Center the Steve "Greek" Antonopulos Training Room and will recognize the trainer at a home game this season. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Greek was there to give head coach Mike Shanahan continual updates as he worked to treat TDs migraine. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. He was special the way he handled it., The continued advancement of therapeutic exercises and the concussion protocols and the NFL hiring medical liaisons has been crucial in advancement of doing things the right way. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. Antonopulos spent 45 years with the Denver Broncos and was the athletic trainer to over 1,500 NFL players. https://t.co/2uuh4JmP6H#ThankYouGreek pic.twitter.com/VljaBUgaTn, Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis told Ryan OHalloran of The Denver Post. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. Broncos director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has been selected by the family of owner Pat Bowlen to present him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Since he started setting up the training room, the Broncos have been to the playoffs 22 times. But athletic trainers, as well as strength and conditioning coaches, also seem to be the first staff members to be blamed when an NFL team suffers numerous injuries. Athletic trainers often work more than 12 hours a day and are required to travel with the team for away games and/or training camp. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Please logout and login again. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. Your login session has expired. The Denver Post caught up with Steve Antonopulos, and during the interview, Antonopulos explained his reasoning behind his retirement. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Vince Garcia. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who has served 45 years in the Broncos organization and was a part of the franchise's three Super Bowl victories, is retiring. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. Steve Antonopulos reaches out to injured linebacker Nick Greisen in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009. cant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right, Players given Kratom by Colorado coach, police say, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, 'Greek' Antonopulos: Presenting Bowlen for HOF has been emotional time, 'Greek' on man he will present to HOF: 'Mr. Antonopulos graduated from Northern Colorado with bachelors and masters degrees and was working as the head trainer and a physical education teacher at Fort Hays (Kan.) State in 1976 when a Johnson & Johnson representative told him about an opening to be Hursts only assistant. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. Could they look to sign a veteran? | . Here's a look. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. 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For me, Ill always remember Antonopulos for the clips he dominated from Super Bowl 32 when Terrell Davis went down with a migraine in the second quarter. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II is the early leader for fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday. The Denver Broncos have leaned toward acquiring injured players during the offseason.Three of the top five draft picks had injuries that prevent them for full athletic participation in the rookie mini camp on May 6-8. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. We thought it would be (quick). Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . Antonopulos graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. Allen called me the first week of July. Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Few peoplenoticed that Smyth also tweeted this on the first day of the NFL draft: https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/17/steve-greek-antonopulos-is-the-broncos-12th-man/, Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional, reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway, 17 Broncos players set to become unrestricted free agents, 5 players Broncos might consider trading this offseason, 8 players Broncos should let walk during NFL free agency, 5 Broncos players who could become cap casualties this offseason, Broncos want to re-sign free agent LB Alex Singleton, Every time the Broncos have used a franchise tag in the past, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Aftersigning his $24.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears during the offseason,the NFL tweeted this about Trevathan: Knee injury.Knee injury.Knee injury.Big contract? He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. There is no verbal banter of windy platitudes to stoke quixotic fantasies of either management or players. Practice is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. we work on post practice treatments. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. It's spanned 900. Ill see you in the morning. And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. For instance, his work with offensive tackle Ryan Clady transformed what would have been dead salary cap money into transferable salary through Cladys trade to the New York Jets. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Antonopulos, who called Bowlen the ultimate owner, was selected by the Bowlen family in 2019 to present Pat at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. Those things are unbelievable and the number of great people and great minds of technology was phenomenal with what you can do for the medical care of football players., Without question, it was our second year here (1984) and he had to go in the offseason to Boston for a Lloyds of London insurance policy.

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