He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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. 2 / 24. 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 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. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. I told him that, and he said. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. It was dreary. I love the energy required to survive in this game. At the moment it is week-by-week. However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . 41-yrs! Broncos head trainer Steve Antonopulos, who is in his 40th season with the team, was presented with a painting created by noted artist Gabe Richesson. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John [Elway], This is it. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos to serve as Pat Bowlen's HOF presenter pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". Broncos' longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos promoted to The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. > Above video: Steve Antonopulos introduces Pat Bowlen at NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Of . In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. 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.. 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. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. 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. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Denver Broncos | PFATS 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. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. 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. 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. His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. 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. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. Could they look to sign a veteran? Steve Antonopulos, known as "Greek," has retired from his position as athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 1 draft pick, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Bryce Young is just over 5-10 and 204 pounds. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. He treated 983 players who've appeared in at least one playoff and regular-season game for the Denver Broncos. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. 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. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. 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? He is also fully practicing. It was phenomenal. but it can also be stressful. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. One moment they move with extraordinary grace, quickness, and power. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. 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. And he played the whole game. Be the first one to comment on this story. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. He held the post until 2016, after which he transitioned into his role as director of sports medicine for four years. Denver Broncos laud retiring trainer Steve Antonopulos, 72, 'a fixture Now hes walking away for good as hes going to retire where he grew up on the eastern plains. 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. 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. We thought it would be (quick). Steve Antonopulos gave the Denver Broncos 45 incredible years as their athletic trainer, having trained the likes of Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe, among others. 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. 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. 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. 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 Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. 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. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. 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. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. Your login session has expired. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. Marshall had several screws to hold together a foot while Travathan had major reconstruction surgery on his knee cap. 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I was making good money on the highway and going to college. 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. 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. Vince Garcia. The Moving can be an exciting experience. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. Steve Antonopulos - Head AT - Denver Broncos | ZoomInfo He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. 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. At the moment, Im just completely thrilled to be a Denver Bronco and I cant wait to get up there. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. We thought it would be (quick). Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. 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. 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. Greeks relationship with him was very personal he helped Pat on a lot of different matters, but he was very helpful giving Pat help throughout the season on where his team was at and it was an honest assessment at all times, which was important to Pat.. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. That poor guy. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Few peoplenoticed that Smyth also tweeted this on the first day of the NFL draft: https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/17/steve-greek-antonopulos-is-the-broncos-12th-man/, Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional, reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway, 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. 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. 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. 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. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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. The Drive was so special. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. 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. Will they play well again? We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Gambling problem? He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Since he started setting up the training room, the Broncos have been to the playoffs 22 times. Learn how your comment data is processed. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. You must be logged in to leave a comment. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. What a run. 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. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. 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.. 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. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. 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. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. 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. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. "A great, great guy, as well as a great ambassador.". 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's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. I have never had a day that I dreaded coming to work. 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. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. It was phenomenal. The Broncos paid an ode to Antonopulos' hard work by naming their training room after him. 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. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. 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. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. Whether movers in Fort Collins are helping you Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), 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. In my mind -- like I told him the other day -- I don't think he's retired. All three are full training camp participants. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. There is another player meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. Post practice treatments follow until we are done at approximately 6 p.m. On game day, Greek arrives very early as well. Allen called me the first week of July. The weather was awful. 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. The livelihood of their families depend on the high body performance. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. Through the Years: The illustrious career of Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos 2023 NFL Scouting Combine results: Defensive linemen and linebackers. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. Denver Broncos news: Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 years 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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. Legendary Broncos Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos Retires With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. Antonopulos spent 45 years with the Denver Broncos and was the athletic trainer to over 1,500 NFL players. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis had this to say about Antonopulos during a phone interview with the Denver Post. 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. What a run. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed.