It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. Your login session has expired. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 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. 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). Rather respecting them in their most important roles as sons, brothers, fathers, and husbands. There is no verbal banter of windy platitudes to stoke quixotic fantasies of either management or players. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. Rainy. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. San Diego: Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos glances at the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the locker during the post-game celebration. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. I am an early person, and I learned years ago I need some time by myself before anyone gets here. 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. 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. 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. Of . We thought it would be (quick). He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. "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. 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. 41-yrs! "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. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. 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. 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. Sleeting. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. Ill always be a Bronco.. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. 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 . 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. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. 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. Practice is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. we work on post practice treatments. I love the energy required to survive in this game. Listen, I really appreciate you calling me. 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! The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. Rainy. He closed the door and he went nuts again. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis had this to say about Antonopulos during a phone interview with the Denver Post. 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. 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. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. You have the passion to do it. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. 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. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/N8K1CSmUdg, Kami Carmann (@KamiCarmann) August 4, 2016. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. 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. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. 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.. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. We thought it would be (quick). If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. 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. Applauding him as "an institution with the Broncos for the last 45 years," Denver bid farewell Monday to director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos, who retired at 72 years old. In announcing the retirement of the man everyone called Greek, the Broncos said he treated 980 different players in the regular season and playoffs. Antonopulos applied for the job and Hurst reached out to have breakfast in Denver when Fort Hays was coming through town between basketball games at Northern Colorado and Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo). Disputed loan at center of Commanders probe, James to join Ravens, files grievance vs. Broncos, Ranking the 25 biggest position upgrades of the NFL offseason, NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus which players benefited most from the draft, Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans, Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. Antonopulos service was rewarded in 2019 when the Bowlen family named him as presenter to longtime Broncos owner Pat Bowlen for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. The weather was awful. 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. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? It was phenomenal. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. 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 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," Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. 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. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. Your login session has expired. I have never had a day that I dreaded coming to work. I told him that, and he said. What a run. pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". 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. All three are full training camp participants. 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. 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. 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. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos with Jim Gillen talk being head athletic trainers https://t.co/nTFo5XtbrK, R. David Mullin (@RD_Mullin) August 17, 2016. Head Athletic Trainer 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. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . 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. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. 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. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. It was phenomenal. Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Found this classic can in hubs stuff. 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. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. 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 very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. Here are his assistants at Super Bowl 50 in February: Congrats to @broncos and the athletic training staff. Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, the Broncos' director of sports medicine, is entering his 44th season with the team. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. 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. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. In honor of his impact & dedication these last 45 years, were naming the training room after Steve Greek Antonopulos. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. 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. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Is the job worth the derision? Gambling problem? Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. Antonopulos graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sleeting. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Here are those results. @Broncos celebrating head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos tonight. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Register now! Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . 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. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. 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. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. 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. 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. Greek was there to give head coach Mike Shanahan continual updates as he worked to treat TDs migraine. Denver's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. Will they play well again? pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. More Videos Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. 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. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTERto getcant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered righttoyour inbox. 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. In my mind -- like I told him the other day -- I don't think he's retired. 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. 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. 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. They required him to go there for a physical. 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. Here's a look. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. 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. 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. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. 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. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. > Top stories curated daily just for you! Please logout and login again. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. 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 will name their training room after Antonopulos. 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. 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. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. 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 is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Not a member? 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.