How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? During his 45-year career with the Broncos, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. 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. 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. Tedious repetitions of arm pulls and leg lifts. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. He was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . Elways competitive drive helped him work through the mental challenges of rehabilitation. Steve (Greek) Antonopulos was the first one. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! His career is still going as the team's director of sports medicine. 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. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. More Videos Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. We thought it would be (quick). Or does the salary serve as a salve to those wounds? He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. By Tim Lynch @TimLynch1978 Jun 7, 2021, 8:50am MDT Share this story. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? 41-yrs! ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. He is also fully practicing. Denver's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. You must be logged in to leave a comment. 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.. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. It wasnt really an injury. 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. Not a member? 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. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. I always thought that might zing me one day.. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. And he played the whole game. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. 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. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. He closed the door and he went nuts again. You have the passion to do it. 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. Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. Odds & lines subject to change. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. Ill always be a Bronco.. 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. At the moment it is week-by-week. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. 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. It's spanned 900. Ill always be a Bronco.. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. View Steve Antonopulos's record in Limon, CO including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.. (photos via Broncos photo archive, unless noted) 1 / 24. In 2005, Greek said: The initial treatment wasicing, compression, and elevation (ICE). Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. "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. 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. He was the team's head trainer for 37 seasons and spent the past four seasons as the director of sports medicine. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. 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. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. 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.. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. 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. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. 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. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. 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The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. Watch the Broncos tribute video to Greek, especially Gary Kubiaks words on how much Greek personally means to him: Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos celebrates 40 years of service with the Denver Broncos https://t.co/whCCXn6cFk. 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. A fellow trainer at Fort Hays was Jim Gillen, who later became the head athletic trainer for the Denver Nuggets. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. Included in the Broncos' draft room is trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who is working his 41st NFL Draft. There is no verbal banter of windy platitudes to stoke quixotic fantasies of either management or players. 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. 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. 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. Steve Antonopulos has accomplished a lot over the past 45 years. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. 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. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. 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. Awesome was Antonopulos longevity in the often-unstable world of the NFL. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Antonopulos, 72, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. He earned the head trainer position in 1979. 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. 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.