Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. 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. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.". Your login session has expired. 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. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. 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. 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. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. Greeks success there was evident as TD would go on to dominate the second half and lead Denver to its first Super Bowl championship. @Broncos celebrating head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos tonight. 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.. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. The Drive was so special. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Athletic trainers have one of the more important jobs on a professional sports team, especially in the NFL. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. A Hugo, Colorado, native, Antonopulos began his career with the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976. Could they look to sign a veteran? The Drive was so special. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. #NGWSD. 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 . We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. NFL/PFATS Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award, NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award. 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. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. The livelihood of their families depend on the high body performance. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. You must be logged in to leave a comment. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. 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. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. 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. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. 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. 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. 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 motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. 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. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? 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. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. Forty-five years is a long time. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. 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. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Over the past 45 years, Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has been a welcoming presence in the Broncos' training rooms at the team's practice facilities, home and road stadiums and training camp locales none more so . pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. It wasnt really an injury. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. 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. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Denver will also honor Steve Antonopulos at one of their home games during the 2021 season. He is the teams 12th man. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. 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. 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. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. "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. 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. That poor guy. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. 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. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. 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. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Interior linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had uncertain futures going into the 2015 season. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. Here are those results. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. 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. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. They required him to go there for a physical. It didnt matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookiehis standard never changed. 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. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. Their bones, cartilage, and ligaments bear theburden of these familial expectations. 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. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Antonopulos spent 45 years with the Denver Broncos and was the athletic trainer to over 1,500 NFL players. I work for a great organization that cares about people. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. Probably the most loyal employee the team has had and will ever have, Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a phone interview. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. Sleeting. He is the only individual to be part of all eight Broncos Super Bowl runs. 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. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. Found this classic can in hubs stuff. 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. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Living at Kimberly Court can seem like living in the most convenient location in Boulder. I love my job. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. Denver Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired after 45 years with the franchise, the team announced Monday. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Ill always be a Bronco.. Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. The Moving can be an exciting experience. Denver's tale of the tape under Antonopulos: 941 total games (incl. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Please logout and login again. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. 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. Gambling problem? Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. 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 graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? In fact over his NFL career Elway ran for3,407 yards and 33 touchdowns. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. As one of six female athletic trainers in the @NFL, Allison Miner is living her dream. Please check your email for a confirmation. Steve Antonopulos will go down as one of the best athletic trainers in the history of the NFL. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. It is still early in the process. That poor guy. 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. 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. 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Will they play well again? Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. No one cared more about the players than Greek. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. (Kicker) Jim Turner caught a (25-yard) touchdown pass on a fake field goal (from holder Norris Weese) and (linebacker) Tom Jackson went over and gave the bird to (coach) John Madden. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. Is the job worth the derision? 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. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. 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 had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Register now! You have the passion to do it. 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. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. 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. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Five hours later, he was driving me 80 miles an hour down I-25 so I could get to the basketball game that night. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. Broncos president Joe Ellis saidthis to Daniel Petty of the Denver Post about the announcement of owner Pat Bowlens retirement due to Alzheimers in 2014: The night before, I thought of people who were so close to him in the organization and needed to know before the announcement came out the next day. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. From Left to Right: Dustin Little, Josh Hartman, Steve Antonopulos, Michael Sundeen, and Billy-Joe Voltaire. He had a fear of flying. 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. Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise - The Denver Post Sports NFL Denver Broncos News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. 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.