Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. 20 in NFLPA ranking of clubs based on locker rooms, food service, travel and more, From DreMont Jones and DeShawn Williams to mining the mid-rounds, DL a big offseason work area for Broncos, Broncos podcast: New coaching staff, impressions from NFL Scouting Combine, Sean Payton very excited to have Vance Joseph as Broncos DC after four years in Arizona, Colorado property owners to face astronomical tax increases next year, After School Satan Club launching first Colorado chapter, but organizer promises "we are not devil worshippers", PHOTOS: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band play Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado landlords say eviction-protection proposal could make dropping problem renters too hard, 5 can't-miss menus for Denver Restaurant Week, No more greasy pizza boxes, paper towels or takeout containers in Front Range compost bins come April 1, After teen's death, Denver East High students walk out to advocate for gun legislation, Boulder house where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Metro Denver housing market crosses firmly into negative territory in February, Kiszla: With Brendan Rodgers down and out, Kris Bryant could become $182 million face of worst team in Rockies history, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Vince Garcia. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He closed the door and he went nuts again. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. In my mind -- like I told him the other day -- I don't think he's retired. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. 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. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 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. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. His Bronco days started in 1976. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. 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. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos with Jim Gillen talk being head athletic trainers https://t.co/nTFo5XtbrK, R. David Mullin (@RD_Mullin) August 17, 2016. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. I have never had a day that I dreaded coming to work. Marshall had several screws to hold together a foot while Travathan had major reconstruction surgery on his knee cap. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. 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. 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. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. 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. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. He closed the door and he went nuts again. 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. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. pic.twitter.com/VZ4LHDGcb7, Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) April 30, 2016. Bowlen was football first, business second'. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! The Drive was so special. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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. 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. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. Your login session has expired. Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, James to join Ravens, files grievance vs. Broncos, Ranking the 25 biggest position upgrades of the NFL offseason, NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus which players benefited most from the draft, Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans, Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board. Head Athletic Trainer 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. It wasnt really an injury. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTERto getcant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered righttoyour inbox. The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. Denver's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. He had a fear of flying. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. 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. 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. Interior linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had uncertain futures going into the 2015 season. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. John Elways pro football career had bookends of torn up body parts. 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. Antonopulos is the only Broncos employee who has been to all eight Super Bowls. I love my job. No one cared more about the players than Greek. 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. Here are those results. 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. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. Sleeting. (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. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 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. 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. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. Here's a look. 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. 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. * A guy we think can get better and better. Listen, I really appreciate you calling me. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Could they look to sign a veteran? Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The weather was awful. 41-yrs! Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". Please logout and login again. 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. Ill always be a Bronco.. His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. He earned the head trainer position in 1979. 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. Please logout and login again. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. So I called him. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. In the playoffs after the 1986 season, the Broncos traveled to Cleveland to win the AFC championship game in overtime, highlighted by The Drive to end regulation. 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. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. He is the teams 12th man. 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. 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. 1. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. 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. Their athletic body movements express their identity. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. 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. Ill always be a Bronco.. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. 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. Director of Operations Bill Horpel is hidden behind the trophy against the Green Bay Packers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA on January 25, 1998. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. 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.. 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. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. Antonopulos applied for the job and Hurst reached out to have breakfast in Denver when Fort Hays was coming through town between basketball games at Northern Colorado and Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo). Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. 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. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? Professional football players endure incessant chronic pain in the playing days and beyond. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. 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. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. It was phenomenal. They required him to go there for a physical. On April 28, moments after the selection of Gotsis, the Broncos draft headquarters was ecstatic, as tweeted by public relations vice president Patrick Smyth: Broncos GM John Elway, HC Gary Kubiak & DL coach Bill Kollar celebrate selection of DT Adam Gotsis in 2nd rd. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon. I told him that, and he said. Be the first one to comment on this story. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. 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.. Is the job worth the derision? During his tenure, Antonopulos picked up the following accolades: NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award and the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. We thought it would be (quick). He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. 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. 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. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. Gambling problem? The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. The weather was awful. Steve Antonopulos is the only Denver Broncos employee that has been with the team through all eight Super Bowl appearances, which included three title victories. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. 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. 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. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. 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. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. Please check your email for a confirmation. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. What a run. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . 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. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive.
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