* A guy we think can get better and better. 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. 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. The next, crippled. "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. (Kicker) Jim Turner caught a (25-yard) touchdown pass on a fake field goal (from holder Norris Weese) and (linebacker) Tom Jackson went over and gave the bird to (coach) John Madden. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . 41-yrs! "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. 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. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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. Rainy. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. 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. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. At the moment it is week-by-week. 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. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. 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. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. 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. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. He had a fear of flying. Could they look to sign a veteran? 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. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. 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. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. 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. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon. 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. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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.. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. The Drive was so special. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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? Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. Allen called me the first week of July. We thought it would be (quick). Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. 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. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. 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.. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. Their bones, cartilage, and ligaments bear theburden of these familial expectations. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. It wasnt really an injury. That poor guy. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. A typical day for me starts at 4 a.m. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. @Grindin_59 never saw this happening: https://t.co/62EHR6aweP pic.twitter.com/2ns3HQOWc3. A Hugo, Colorado, native, Antonopulos began his career with the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. 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. 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. And he played the whole game. 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. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. 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. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. Learn how your comment data is processed. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Antonopulos was the longest-tenured employee at the franchise. (Kicker) Jim Turner caught a (25-yard) touchdown pass on a fake field goal (from holder Norris Weese) and (linebacker) Tom Jackson went over and gave the bird to (coach) John Madden. 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. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. 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. General manager John Elway toldDenver Posts Nicki Jhabvala: Elway on Gotsis: "A guy we think has a really high *ceiling. 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. 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. 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). I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. 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. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. He closed the door and he went nuts again. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. 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. 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.. ", Broncos coach Vic Fangio said following Monday's OTA practice: "45 years of service to one organization is unheard of in the NFL, and that speaks volumes to his competency and the value he brought to this organization over such a long period of time.". So I called him. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. 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. It was phenomenal. Bowlen was football first, business second'. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Of . 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. 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. 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. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. He had a fear of flying. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. The weather was awful. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Six of Pat Bowlen's children and presenter Steve Antonopulos at the longtime Broncos owner's inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. 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. I am an early person, and I learned years ago I need some time by myself before anyone gets here. 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. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. The first groups have completed their weigh-ins, measurements, and drills. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Gambling problem? 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. I love being around young people who keep me young. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Denver will rename the training room at UCHealth Training Center the Steve "Greek" Antonopulos Training Room and will recognize the trainer at a home game this season. Denver's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. It was dreary. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . 2 / 24. 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. pic.twitter.com/N8K1CSmUdg, Kami Carmann (@KamiCarmann) August 4, 2016. Antonopulos, who called Bowlen the ultimate owner, was selected by the Bowlen family in 2019 to present Pat at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . Since he started setting up the training room, the Broncos have been to the playoffs 22 times. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. Allen called me the first week of July. 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. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. At the moment, Im just completely thrilled to be a Denver Bronco and I cant wait to get up there. 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. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. The Denver Broncos hired Steve Antonopulos as their assistant trainer in 1976. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. 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. 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. They required him to go there for a physical. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. 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. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. There is no verbal banter of windy platitudes to stoke quixotic fantasies of either management or players. It is still early in the process. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Antonopulos graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. Found this classic can in hubs stuff. 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. 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. It was phenomenal. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. 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.. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Your login session has expired. 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. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. 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. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. I work for a great organization that cares about people. In 2005, Greek said: The initial treatment wasicing, compression, and elevation (ICE). 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. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. 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. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. 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. His Bronco days started in 1976. 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. "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. Please check your email for a confirmation. Register now! 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. 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. 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. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. 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I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. 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. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. And he played the whole game. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. 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. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. Please check your email for a confirmation. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days.