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. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise - The Denver Post Sports NFL Denver Broncos News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by. View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. He closed the door and he went nuts again. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. 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. I work for a great organization that cares about people. Although there are many female coaches in the NFL, athletic training and strength and conditioning were among the first positions to be filled by women. 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. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. One moment they move with extraordinary grace, quickness, and power. 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! We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. 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. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. You have the passion to do it. Please logout and login again. 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. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. He treated 983 players who've appeared in at least one playoff and regular-season game for the Denver Broncos. 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. 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. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. 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. I love the challenges that are presented each day. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 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.. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. 41-yrs! Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. 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. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. Example video title will go here for this video. I told him that, and he said. Ill always be a Bronco.. pic.twitter.com/VZ4LHDGcb7, Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) April 30, 2016. 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. 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. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? 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. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. He had a fear of flying. Their athletic body movements express their identity. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos with Jim Gillen talk being head athletic trainers https://t.co/nTFo5XtbrK, R. David Mullin (@RD_Mullin) August 17, 2016. Ill always be a Bronco.. 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. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Antonopulos spent 45 years with the Denver Broncos and was the athletic trainer to over 1,500 NFL players. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Be the first one to comment on this story. Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. 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. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. 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. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. What a run. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. We thought it would be (quick). Will they play well again? Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 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. 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. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. His physical was first thing in the morning. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. They required him to go there for a physical. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. 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 money. 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. 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 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.. During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. It was dreary. 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. Bowlen was football first, business second'. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! @Broncos celebrating head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos tonight. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. 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. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. Your login session has expired. 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. That poor guy. 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. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Rainy. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. 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. 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. 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. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years 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. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. What a run. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. 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. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. 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. He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. 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. Sleeting. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? 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. 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.. 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. Now hes walking away for good as hes going to retire where he grew up on the eastern plains. 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. 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. 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. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. It wasnt really an injury. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. 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. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. 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. Could they look to sign a veteran? Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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.. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. 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. The Drive was so special. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. 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. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. 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. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Antonopulos graduated from Northern Colorado with bachelors and masters degrees and was working as the head trainer and a physical education teacher at Fort Hays (Kan.) State in 1976 when a Johnson & Johnson representative told him about an opening to be Hursts only assistant. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. 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. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. 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. Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos, who is in his 40th season with the team, was presented with a painting created by noted artist Gabe Richesson. Is the job worth the derision? 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. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. 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. For 45 years, athletic trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has been the epitome of what the Denver Broncos are all about.Greek, there arent words to describe the impact youve had on our organization, and we wish you nothing but the very best in retirement!#ThankYouGreek pic.twitter.com/HAKN6t7S7P. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. 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. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. It was phenomenal. 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. 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Interior linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had uncertain futures going into the 2015 season. At the moment, Im just completely thrilled to be a Denver Bronco and I cant wait to get up there. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. I have never had a day that I dreaded coming to work. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. The Drive was so special. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. 1. 2 / 24. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. "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. The weather was awful. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. 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. 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 the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. | . 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. John Elways pro football career had bookends of torn up body parts. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff.

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