Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. 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. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. They required him to go there for a physical. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. 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. Your login session has expired. Could they look to sign a veteran? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. Ill always be a Bronco.. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. 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. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis told Ryan OHalloran of The Denver Post, Broncos free agent profile: Dalton Risner, Broncos give behind-the-scenes look at the NFL combine. Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. I love caring for people. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? pic.twitter.com/N8K1CSmUdg, Kami Carmann (@KamiCarmann) August 4, 2016. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. Ill see you in the morning. And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. Your login session has expired. 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. 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. That poor guy. 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. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. He embodies the principles of the Fain-Cain Award, and he continues to impact all of those who have been around him. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. I love the energy required to survive in this game. 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. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. 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.. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. but it can also be stressful. And he played the whole game. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. 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. He is the teams 12th man. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! 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. Found this classic can in hubs stuff. "the Greek" and considered by many of his peers as tops in his profession, has worked for coaches Red Miller, Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips and Mike Shanahan as the Bronco. He 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.. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. The next, crippled. 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.. 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. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 and retired in 2021 as the teams director of sports medicine. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. 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? Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. 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 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. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. 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. 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. #NGWSD. https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/08/denver-broncos-news-steve-greek-antonopulos-retires-as-trainer/, 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. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. 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. 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. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Professional football players endure incessant chronic pain in the playing days and beyond. More Videos For instance, his work with offensive tackle Ryan Clady transformed what would have been dead salary cap money into transferable salary through Cladys trade to the New York Jets. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. 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. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. 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. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. The Broncos announced Wednesday that longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has been promoted to the team's director of sports medicine, where he will oversee all. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. Please check your email for a confirmation. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. Be the first one to comment on this story. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. 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 assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. Antonopulos was the longest-tenured employee at the franchise. Greek was there to give head coach Mike Shanahan continual updates as he worked to treat TDs migraine. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. 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. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. 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. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise, As Broncos wrap up stay at NFL Combine, busy offseason of change churns toward free agency, draft, Broncos check in No. 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. 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. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. 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.. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. 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. Of . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. 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. 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 just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. I love being around young people who keep me young. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. It is still early in the process. They required him to go there for a physical. Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. Vince Garcia. 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. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. In honor of his impact & dedication these last 45 years, were naming the training room after Steve Greek Antonopulos. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. 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. The 2023 NFL Combine is underway. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. 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. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. Bowlen was football first, business second'. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. 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 told him that, and he said. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. 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. 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. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. > Top stories curated daily just for you! 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. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. "As a proud native Coloradoan, Greek loved the Broncos and gave everything he had to the job, arriving most days before 4:30 a.m. and keeping that same passion throughout his entire career. The Denver Broncos hired Steve Antonopulos as their assistant trainer in 1976. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. 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. 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! It wasnt really an injury. For me, Ill always remember Antonopulos for the clips he dominated from Super Bowl 32 when Terrell Davis went down with a migraine in the second quarter. I love my job. I woke him up. However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . Will they play well again? They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Forty-five years is a long time. 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. No one cared more about the players than Greek. 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. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos in a move CEO Joe Ellis called a no-brainer given his long run with the franchise. He had a fear of flying. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. 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. What a run. 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. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. Antonopulos, whose office was routinely owner Pat Bowlen's first stop each morning when Bowlen arrived to work, is the longest-tenured employee in the franchise's history and is the only employee to have been with the Broncos for each of the team's eight Super Bowl trips. Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. 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.