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Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Fangio also added that "I have hard time believing that Greek is really retired. > Above video: Steve Antonopulos introduces Pat Bowlen at NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony. 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. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. 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. 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. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. 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. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. Greeks relationship with him was very personal he helped Pat on a lot of different matters, but he was very helpful giving Pat help throughout the season on where his team was at and it was an honest assessment at all times, which was important to Pat.. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. 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. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to celebrate 40 years of service by Greek. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. 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.. It was dreary. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. 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. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. 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. 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. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. 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. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. The next, crippled. Here's a look. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. Antonopulos and his wife, Susan, have a blended family of five kids and seven grandkids and will split their time between homes in Limon., and Tucson, Ariz., and driving their RV to visit family. We thought it would be (quick). The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. The weather was awful. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. The weather was awful. The 2023 NFL Combine is underway. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. 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. 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. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. Hes been here north of 37 years, and every day, Mr. Bowlen started his day, by parking in the garage, coming up through the steps and stopping by Greeks office and chatting with him. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who has served 45 years in the Broncos organization and was a part of the franchise's three Super Bowl victories, is retiring. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. 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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. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. Here are those results. 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. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. You have the passion to do it. It wasnt really an injury. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. 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. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. What a run. The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? 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. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. What a run. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. 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. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. I love the energy required to survive in this game. 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. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine results: Defensive linemen and linebackers. Is the job worth the derision? He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. 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. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. It's spanned 900. Ill always be a Bronco.. 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. However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. 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. Steve Antonopulos is the only Denver Broncos employee that has been with the team through all eight Super Bowl appearances, which included three title victories. He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis had this to say about Antonopulos during a phone interview with the Denver Post. Register now! I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Your login session has expired. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? Elways competitive drive helped him work through the mental challenges of rehabilitation. And he played the whole game. 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. His physical was first thing in the morning. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. 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. 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. Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. Rainy. 2 / 24. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. ", 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.". My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? I was making good money on the highway and going to college. 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. 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. More Videos 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. 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. 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. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. 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. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. Once I get up to Denver and visit with the team doctors, they can check out my knee and do all of that, and then we can go from there. (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. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. He depended on him for help recovering from injuries, advice on health concerns when evaluating players and, often, simply the friendship that they cultivated over . 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. 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. 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. The first groups have completed their weigh-ins, measurements, and drills. Please check your email for a confirmation. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". Rather respecting them in their most important roles as sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands. 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. 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. No one cared more about the players than Greek. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. Allen called me the first week of July. 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. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. "the Greek" and considered by many of his peers as tops in his profession, has worked for coaches Red Miller, Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips and Mike Shanahan as the Bronco.