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. Here's everything we know, QB Young 5-10 1/8, 204 pounds at NFL combine, Sources: Patriots tell QB Hoyer he's being cut, Horns' Robinson: Versatility worthy of early pick, Jones: Not fixated on Cowboys' drought, just '23, Sources: Raiders plan franchise tag for Jacobs, WR Addison to Steelers' Pickett: 'Come get me', Wolverines' Turner wows with 4.26 40 at combine, Top QB prospect Levis eager to unleash 'cannon', Everything you need to know about Geno Smith's contract negotiations. 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 just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. 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. 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. His career with the team began in 1976 and spanned all eight of the teams Super Bowl appearances, 10 general managers, and three and a half team owners. 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. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. (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. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. Here's a look. When I see a player incurring a major injury withering in pain on the field, I am seeing most the emotional agony and fear of uncertainty. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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. That poor guy. I love caring for people. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Here are those results. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. We thought it would be (quick). 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. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. 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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. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. It was dreary. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. The weather was awful. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. 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. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. 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.. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. 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. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Steve Antonopulos gave the Denver Broncos 45 incredible years as their athletic trainer, having trained the likes of Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe, among others. 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 grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. 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. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. 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.. Not only did the club pick up Gotsis in the draft, but the Broncos chose running back Devontae Booker, who recently had two surgical procedures on a torn meniscus. In 2005, Greek said: The initial treatment wasicing, compression, and elevation (ICE). The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Drive was so special. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. > Top stories curated daily just for you! During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. In all he was on the sideline for 941 games (preseason, regular season and postseason) and worked for 13 different head coaches. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He treated 983 players who've appeared in at least one playoff and regular-season game for the Denver Broncos. Please logout and login again. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Ill see you in the morning. And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. Rainy. 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. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. 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. ", 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.". 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. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Kentucky's Will Levis, a likely top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, spoke Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine and -- in under 15 minutes -- presented himself as arguably the most self-assured QB in this year's class. Antonopulos started with the Broncos as an assistant athletic trainer in 1976, became the team's director of rehabilitation in 1979 and was hired as Denver's head athletic trainer in 1980. It's spanned 900. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. Not a member? Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. Or does the salary serve as a salve to those wounds? 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. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. "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," said team President and CEO Joe Ellis. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. 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. It was phenomenal. Is the job worth the derision? It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. #NGWSD. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. It is still early in the process. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. Greek was there to give head coach Mike Shanahan continual updates as he worked to treat TDs migraine. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. 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 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. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. 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. 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. 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. As one of six female athletic trainers in the @NFL, Allison Miner is living her dream. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. He embodies the principles of the Fain-Cain Award, and he continues to impact all of those who have been around him. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. 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. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. 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. "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. As the only person in the history of the Broncos to be part of all eight Super Bowls, Greek made a profound impact on this organization. You have the passion to do it. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. Allen called me the first week of July. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. Could they look to sign a veteran? 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. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. 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. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . "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. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. At the moment it is week-by-week. It was phenomenal. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. What a run. Interior linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had uncertain futures going into the 2015 season. @Grindin_59 never saw this happening: https://t.co/62EHR6aweP pic.twitter.com/2ns3HQOWc3. 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. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. 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). Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. Rainy. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. 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. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. Since he started setting up the training room, the Broncos have been to the playoffs 22 times. And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. Gambling problem? Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. 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. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. 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. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. 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. 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. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Steve Antonopulos Head Athletic Trainer at Denver Broncos Parker, Colorado, United States 7 connections Join to connect Denver Broncos University of Northern Colorado Report this profile. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. What a run. John Elways pro football career had bookends of torn up body parts. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. 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. 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 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. I work for a great organization that cares about people. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. 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. but it can also be stressful. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. General manager John Elway toldDenver Posts Nicki Jhabvala: Elway on Gotsis: "A guy we think has a really high *ceiling. Antonopulos graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. 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. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. After becoming head athletic trainer for the South Metro Fire Rescue in Centennial from 2014-15, Garcia rejoined the Broncos training staff as Antonopulos top assistant in 2016. One moment they move with extraordinary grace, quickness, and power. 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. Bowlen was football first, business second'. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. I love the challenges that are presented each day. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required.
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