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. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. @Broncos celebrating head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos tonight. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. 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. 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. 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. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. 1. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. His physical was first thing in the morning. Example video title will go here for this video. The weather was awful. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Over the past 45 years, Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has been a welcoming presence in the Broncos' training rooms at the team's practice facilities, home and road stadiums and training camp locales none more so . Rather respecting them in their most important roles as sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Since the former Fort Hays head athletic trainer launched his NFL career, a lot has changed in the sport and in the world of athletic training, but Antonopulos' career had such remarkable longevity because he constantly worked to keep up with updating practices and help shape the evolving field. Here's a look. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. His physical was first thing in the morning. Rainy. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Bowlen was football first, business second'. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. Please logout and login again. Your login session has expired. Of . They required him to go there for a physical. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. The award is given annually to a NFL trainer who best exemplifies a long-term commitment to the NFL, as well as exemplary performance. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. 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. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 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. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! 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. Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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. 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. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. "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. 1 draft pick, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Bryce Young is just over 5-10 and 204 pounds. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. It was dreary. 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. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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. 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). "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. 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. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. 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. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. I work for a great organization that cares about people. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. 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. Rainy. 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. 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. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. 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. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 and retired in 2021 as the teams director of sports medicine. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. So I called him. Coach Gary Kubiaks unflappable reaction to the season-ending knee injury of starting defensive end Vance Walker on Tuesday was based on his confidence of the Denver Broncos reserve depth at the position. 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). 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. Be the first one to comment on this story. You have the passion to do it. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. Antonopulos was the longest-tenured employee at the franchise. "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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. "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. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. 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. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. Broncos president Joe Ellis saidthis to Daniel Petty of the Denver Post about the announcement of owner Pat Bowlens retirement due to Alzheimers in 2014: The night before, I thought of people who were so close to him in the organization and needed to know before the announcement came out the next day. 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! I always thought that might zing me one day.. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. 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. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. 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. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. He closed the door and he went nuts again. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. 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. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. Vince Garcia. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. 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 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. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. 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.. 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. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. 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. 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. 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. 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. Antonopulos is the only Broncos employee who has been to all eight Super Bowls. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. 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. 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? 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. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. 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. I told him that, and he said. 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 training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. 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. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. 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. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. 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I love the relationships I have developed over the years. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. That poor guy. 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 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. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. 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. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. We thought it would be (quick). 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. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. I always thought that might zing me one day.. He was very straight forward, he was very honest and he was a really good communicator in that he has a good bedside manner in a position where that is obviously required.. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place.

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