During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. Among his career accolades are the Fain-Cain Memorial Award (2011), an honor bestowed to trainer who exemplifies long-term commitment to the NFL, the NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award (1987), the National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award (1996) and the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2006). The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. At the moment it is week-by-week. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. Athletic trainers with little to no experience make just above $30,000 each year, which, in regards to the amount of work and responsibility that athletic trainers have, may not seem like a lot of. Antonopulos is the only Broncos employee who has been to all eight Super Bowls. 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. Fangio also added that "I have hard time believing that Greek is really retired. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. 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. Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. Greeks relationship with him was very personal he helped Pat on a lot of different matters, but he was very helpful giving Pat help throughout the season on where his team was at and it was an honest assessment at all times, which was important to Pat.. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. #NGWSD. The Raiders plan to place the franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs if the sides cannot come to a deal on a long-term extension by Tuesday's deadline, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Friday. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. I woke him up. For 45 years, athletic trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has been the epitome of what the Denver Broncos are all about.Greek, there arent words to describe the impact youve had on our organization, and we wish you nothing but the very best in retirement!#ThankYouGreek pic.twitter.com/HAKN6t7S7P. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. Applauding him as "an institution with the Broncos for the last 45 years," Denver bid farewell Monday to director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos, who retired at 72 years old. 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. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. Be the first one to comment on this story. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? 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. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. The next, crippled. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. A native of Hugo and graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Antonopulos first joined the Broncos in 1976 as assistant trainer to Allen Hurst. The worst locker room in the NFL to a point where we had to tape our athletes in the bathroom if you could imagine that, the locker room was so small. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. The worst locker room in the NFL to a point where we had to tape our athletes in the bathroom if you could imagine that, the locker room was so small. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Antonopulos, 72, started working for the Broncos on St. Patricks Day 1976 as an assistant trainer, was promoted to director of rehabilitation in 80, to head athletic trainer in 81 and was director of sports medicine since 2016. 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. 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 called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. After Greeks retirement was announced, team president/CEO Joe Ellis released the following statement: 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. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. It was phenomenal. Please check your email for a confirmation. Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTERto getcant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered righttoyour inbox. It was phenomenal. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the only person to be a part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl appearances. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. In my mind -- like I told him the other day -- I don't think he's retired. Will they play well again? Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. > Above video: Steve Antonopulos introduces Pat Bowlen at NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony. They required him to go there for a physical. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. He had a fear of flying. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. 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. 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. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. John Elways pro football career had bookends of torn up body parts. They required him to go there for a physical. A typical day for me starts at 4 a.m. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. 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. He earned the head trainer position in 1979. Sleeting. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. A native of North Dakota and graduate of Kansas State, OHalloran previously covered the Washington Redskins for eight years, primarily at The Washington Times, and the Jacksonville Jaguars for six years at The Florida Times-Union. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. It wasnt really an injury. Watch the Broncos tribute video to Greek, especially Gary Kubiaks words on how much Greek personally means to him: Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos celebrates 40 years of service with the Denver Broncos https://t.co/whCCXn6cFk. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. We were taxing to take off and he just went nuts and jumped out of his seat and was screaming and the pilot pulled up, opened the door and let him get a breath. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Be the first one to comment on this story. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Athletic trainers are the first on the field when an NFL player is injured, and in the case of a serious injury, they have to use quick decision-making to treat the player immediately. @Grindin_59 never saw this happening: https://t.co/62EHR6aweP pic.twitter.com/2ns3HQOWc3. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. 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. Rainy. That poor guy. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Rainy. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. 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. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. The weather was awful. Antonopulos, 72, was a constant factor in the Broncos long run of success over the last 4+ decades treating and working with every single player Denver employed over those years. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Greek is ever present when scary injuries occur, such as the incident with defensive end Derek Wolfe in the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on August 17, 2013. 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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. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the only person to be a part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl appearances. 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. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos, who is in his 40th season with the team, was presented with a painting created by noted artist Gabe Richesson. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. 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. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. Please logout and login again. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. Antonopulos service was rewarded in 2019 when the Bowlen family named him as presenter to longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? He had a fear of flying. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . 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. 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. Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , 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. 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. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. In all he was on the sideline for 941 games (preseason, regular season and postseason) and worked for 13 different head coaches. We thought it would be (quick). And he played the whole game. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. Steve Antonopulos, known as "Greek," has retired from his position as athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. 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. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff. On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to celebrate 40 years of service by Greek. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. 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. Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise - The Denver Post Sports NFL Denver Broncos News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. I always thought that might zing me one day.. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. Here's a look. 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. Genuine compassiondoes not stokepipe dreams but conveys the everyday dignity owed to any man, especially for the players attempting to secure a livelihood for their families to leap from ongoing poverty to sustained prosperity. 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 first groups have completed their weigh-ins, measurements, and drills.

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