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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. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. 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. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. 41-yrs! 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. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. Now hes walking away for good as hes going to retire where he grew up on the eastern plains. 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. Please logout and login again. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. General manager John Elway toldDenver Posts Nicki Jhabvala: Elway on Gotsis: "A guy we think has a really high *ceiling. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. He was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. Bowlen was football first, business second'. 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. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. 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. What a run. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. There is another player meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. Post practice treatments follow until we are done at approximately 6 p.m. On game day, Greek arrives very early as well. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. His physical was first thing in the morning. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. 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. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. That poor guy. 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. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. 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. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis had this to say about Antonopulos during a phone interview with the Denver Post. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise, As Broncos wrap up stay at NFL Combine, busy offseason of change churns toward free agency, draft, Broncos check in No. 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. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. In 2005, Greek said: The initial treatment wasicing, compression, and elevation (ICE). Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Rainy. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. His Bronco days started in 1976. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. Of . In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. I told him that, and he said. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. 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. We thought it would be (quick). Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. He had a fear of flying. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. What is your favorite memory of the Broncos long-time head trainer? Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. You have the passion to do it. 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. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. 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. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. "A great, great guy, as well as a great ambassador.". The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. 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. The first groups have completed their weigh-ins, measurements, and drills. 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. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. 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.. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. 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. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? The Denver Broncos hired Steve Antonopulos as their assistant trainer in 1976. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. 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. 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. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. 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. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . 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. 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. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. At the moment it is week-by-week. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. He embodies the principles of the Fain-Cain Award, and he continues to impact all of those who have been around him. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. 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. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. Take a quick 30-second survey to help us deliver the best content around NFL & College Football. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. Be the first one to comment on this story. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. It wasnt really an injury. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 2 / 24. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. 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. > Top stories curated daily just for you! 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. 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. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II is the early leader for fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. 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. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. 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. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. 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. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. It was phenomenal. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL.