He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. Antonopulos was the longest-tenured employee at the franchise. Greek was the recipient of the2011 Fain-Cain Memorial Award at the NFL Physicians Society Scientific Annual Meeting. I always thought that might zing me one day.. Their athletic body movements express their identity. Please check your email for a confirmation. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! 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. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway. I love my job. As one of six female athletic trainers in the @NFL, Allison Miner is living her dream. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? 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. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. 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. 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. Antonopulos became head trainer in 1979 making him what is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer in NFL history. 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. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. 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. It's spanned 900. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. We thought it would be (quick). From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. Greek received both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Northern Colorado, and began his athletic trainer career at Fort Hays State University in Kansas in 1973, working there until 1976. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . Steve Antonopulos reaches out to injured linebacker Nick Greisen in Englewood, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009. cant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right, Players given Kratom by Colorado coach, police say, Skier Shiffrin's quest for 86th win extended after downhill, 77 inches of snow fall at Colorado ski area in 9 days, 'Greek' Antonopulos: Presenting Bowlen for HOF has been emotional time, 'Greek' on man he will present to HOF: 'Mr. He was named Colorado Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. 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, has worked with the Broncos for nearly 50 years, making his the longest career with one team in NFL history. Ill always be a Bronco.. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. 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. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Those things are unbelievable and the number of great people and great minds of technology was phenomenal with what you can do for the medical care of football players., Without question, it was our second year here (1984) and he had to go in the offseason to Boston for a Lloyds of London insurance policy. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. He had a fear of flying. 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. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. The award is given annually to a NFL trainer who best exemplifies a long-term commitment to the NFL, as well as exemplary performance. Denver Broncos athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos, who recently retired this offseason, was the longest tenured athletic trainer in the NFL. I love being around young people who keep me young. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. I love the relationships I have developed over the years. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. 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.. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. Will they play well again? When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John [Elway], This is it. 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. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. I woke him up. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? The Moving can be an exciting experience. Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTERto getcant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered righttoyour inbox. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976, became head athletic trainer in 1981 and was promoted to the role of director of sports medicine in 2016. 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. Take a quick 30-second survey to help us deliver the best content around NFL & College Football. 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. Is the job worth the derision? My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. So I called him. "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. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. The Broncos announced on Monday, June 7, 2021, that Antonopulos will retire after more than three decades as the team's trainer. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. The Broncos accurate confidence about Gotsis recovery greatly depended on the assessment and follow-through bythe mancalled Greek at the clubs UCHealth Training Center. 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). We thought it would be (quick). Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. He is the teams 12th man. 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. 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.. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. He leaves big shoes to fill at the organization. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. 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. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. June 9, 2021 6:00 am MT. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. It wasnt really an injury. Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. Allen called me the first week of July. No one cared more about the players than Greek. He got $26.4 million without playing a down for the Colts last year 32 percent more than his first-year salary with the Broncos. It wasnt really an injury. He closed the door and he went nuts again. > Top stories curated daily just for you! Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. 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.. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- After a career that spanned 45 years with the Denver Broncos, director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has retired. Athletic trainers are the first on the field when an NFL player is injured, and in the case of a serious injury, they have to use quick decision-making to treat the player immediately. You have to understand he tore the long head of the bicep which is located in the shoulder joint. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.. Genuine compassiondoes not stokepipe dreams but conveys the everyday dignity owed to any man, especially for the players attempting to secure a livelihood for their families to leap from ongoing poverty to sustained prosperity. San Diego: Head Athletic Trainer Steve Antonopulos glances at the Vince Lombardi Trophy in the locker during the post-game celebration. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . I love caring for people. At the moment it is week-by-week. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. From there, we went to Cheers bar and ran into some Denver people and had a couple cold ones. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. 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. 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? We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. 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Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos with Jim Gillen talk being head athletic trainers https://t.co/nTFo5XtbrK, R. David Mullin (@RD_Mullin) August 17, 2016. "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. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. Fangio also added that "I have hard time believing that Greek is really retired. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. (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. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. A Hugo, Colorado, native, Antonopulos began his career with the Broncos as an assistant trainer in 1976. 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 had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. 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. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. 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. 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). You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.
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