Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. 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 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. Your login session has expired. His physical was first thing in the morning. The Moving can be an exciting experience. 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. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. Not a member? 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. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. #NGWSD. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. 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. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. What a run. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. 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. There are a hundred athletic trainers currently employed in the NFL and the average salary for those trainers is about $75,000, a figure that can rise to $100,000 depending on experience. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. I woke him up. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. 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. Please logout and login again. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. They required him to go there for a physical. Their athletic body movements express their identity. It's spanned 900. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. 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 was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff. He closed the door and he went nuts again. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. 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.. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. 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. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Ill always be a Bronco.. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. 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. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. 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. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! 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. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . That poor guy. Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 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.. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. 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, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. Sleeting. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. He treated 983 players who've appeared in at least one playoff and regular-season game for the Denver Broncos. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. The 2023 NFL Combine is underway. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. On April 28, moments after the selection of Gotsis, the Broncos draft headquarters was ecstatic, as tweeted by public relations vice president Patrick Smyth: Broncos GM John Elway, HC Gary Kubiak & DL coach Bill Kollar celebrate selection of DT Adam Gotsis in 2nd rd. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. Of . 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. 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. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. 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. 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. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. 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. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. "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. 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. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. I love caring for people. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. Not only did the club pick up Gotsis in the draft, but the Broncos chose running back Devontae Booker, who recently had two surgical procedures on a torn meniscus. He is also fully practicing. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie quarterback in 1983 and spent well over two decades with the franchise himself, has joked that Antonopulos was with the Broncos before the orange and blue in the uniforms. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. It was dreary. 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. Elways competitive drive helped him work through the mental challenges of rehabilitation. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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 . 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. That poor guy. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 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. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. Fangio also added that "I have hard time believing that Greek is really retired. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. Be the first one to comment on this story. I always thought that might zing me one day.. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. He is the teams 12th man. 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? In all he was on the sideline for 941 games (preseason, regular season and postseason) and worked for 13 different head coaches. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. A typical day for me starts at 4 a.m. The next, crippled. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. 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. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. Rainy. It is still early in the process. 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. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Marshall had several screws to hold together a foot while Travathan had major reconstruction surgery on his knee cap. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. He had a fear of flying. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? 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. 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. 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. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. 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. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. 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! Allen called me the first week of July. 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. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players.