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. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. I love the energy required to survive in this game. 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. 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.. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. 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. But athletic trainers, as well as strength and conditioning coaches, also seem to be the first staff members to be blamed when an NFL team suffers numerous injuries. 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. 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. * A guy we think can get better and better. 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.. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. 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. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Allen called me the first week of July. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. Rainy. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . Not a member? ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Among his career accolades are the Fain-Cain Memorial Award (2011), an honor bestowed to trainer who exemplifies long-term commitment to the NFL, the NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award (1987), the National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award (1996) and the NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award (2006). We thought it would be (quick). View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. 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. It wasnt really an injury. In honor of his impact & dedication these last 45 years, were naming the training room after Steve Greek Antonopulos. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. He had a fear of flying. 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. 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. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. All three are full training camp participants. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. 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. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. 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? Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. The Drive was so special. On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to celebrate 40 years of service by Greek. Here's a look. 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. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL 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. 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. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. A typical day for me starts at 4 a.m. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? 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. 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. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. 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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. It wasnt really an injury. Bowlen was football first, business second'. 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. Their athletic body movements express their identity. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. And he played the whole game. 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. I love caring for people. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. The Denver Broncos have leaned toward acquiring injured players during the offseason.Three of the top five draft picks had injuries that prevent them for full athletic participation in the rookie mini camp on May 6-8. 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 worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. It was phenomenal. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. 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. 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. 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. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Since he started setting up the training room, the Broncos have been to the playoffs 22 times. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. That poor guy. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. 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. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Odds & lines subject to change. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff. Please check your email for a confirmation. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. 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. 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. 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. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. During John Elway's 16-year playing career and his decade leading the Broncos' front office, he was able to rely on Director of Sports Medicine Steve "Greek" Antonopulos for a lot. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. Now hes walking away for good as hes going to retire where he grew up on the eastern plains. 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. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. 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. The Denver Post caught up with Steve Antonopulos, and during the interview, Antonopulos explained his reasoning behind his retirement. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. He embodies the principles of the Fain-Cain Award, and he continues to impact all of those who have been around him. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. 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. "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with 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. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. 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! After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. It is still early in the process. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. Please logout and login again. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. Learn how your comment data is processed. What a run. Is the job worth the derision? 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.. 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. Please check your email for a confirmation. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. And he played the whole game. 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.. Antonopulos is the only Broncos employee who has been to all eight Super Bowls. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. No one cared more about the players than Greek. 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.. 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 went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. "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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. At the moment it is week-by-week. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. 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. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. 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. 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. 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. 1. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. What is your favorite memory of the Broncos long-time head trainer? 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. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. ", 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.". Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. 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 researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. (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 is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. 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. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. But according to those who know him well, Greeks domain also contains a rare element in the Not For Long professional football league: an endless supply of unsentimental, deep compassion. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. He is the teams 12th man. It was dreary. 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.

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