He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. Gambling problem? ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. 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? Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. 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. Repeated selections of injured players shows the teams confidence in Greeks abilityto assess and treat injured players. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. 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. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. The Drive was so special. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. Denver will rename the training room at UCHealth Training Center the Steve "Greek" Antonopulos Training Room and will recognize the trainer at a home game this season. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . 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. 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. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. 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. 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. 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. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. What a run. Or does the salary serve as a salve to those wounds? One moment they move with extraordinary grace, quickness, and power. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? I was making good money on the highway and going to college. Toward the end Elways ripped bicep. 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. 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. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. 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. John Elways pro football career had bookends of torn up body parts. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires after 45-year Broncos career Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Head Athletic Trainer "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. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. 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.. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. 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. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. Antonopulos is the only Broncos employee who has been to all eight Super Bowls. Your login session has expired. 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. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. 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.. 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. When I see a player incurring a major injury withering in pain on the field, I am seeing most the emotional agony and fear of uncertainty. 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. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? I love the energy required to survive in this game. "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. 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. What is your favorite memory of the Broncos long-time head trainer? Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 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.. 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.. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. It was dreary. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Smith runs second-fastest 40 by DL since 03, Saleh compares Carr to Stafford pre-Rams trade, Allen to be ready to roll for offseason program, How to maximize leverage of No. 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. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. 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. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. Rainy. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. 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. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. It was dreary. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. His first chance came in the summer of 1969 when trainer Allen Hurst offered him an internship. 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. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. And then Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City has always been one of my favorites. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. We thought it would be (quick). With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. 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. 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. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. 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.. San Diego: Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos glances at the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the locker during the post-game celebration. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Allen called me the first week of July. @Grindin_59 never saw this happening: https://t.co/62EHR6aweP pic.twitter.com/2ns3HQOWc3. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Of . Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. As one of six female athletic trainers in the @NFL, Allison Miner is living her dream. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. I love being around young people who keep me young. 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. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. Take a quick 30-second survey to help us deliver the best content around NFL & College Football. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. 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. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. 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). 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. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. Register now! We certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. 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. Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. It was phenomenal. His Bronco days started in 1976. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". 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. 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. More Videos Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. 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). A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. 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. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married.