The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. The first groups have completed their weigh-ins, measurements, and drills. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. 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.. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. It was phenomenal. 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. 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. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. 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. It wasnt really an injury. 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"No one cared more about the players than Greek. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. The Broncos will honor Antonopulos at a home game this season and the team will rename their training room after the longtime trainer. I told him that, and he said. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? He had a fear of flying. I work for a great organization that cares about people. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John [Elway], This is it. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Adhesive bandages, electrodes, ice bags, and kinesiology tape. There were 983 players who played at least one regular-season game for the Broncos in his tenure. 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. Instead of cutting the tackle, Denver traded him and gaineda future fifth-round draft pick. By 1987 he received the NFL/Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society (PFATS) award for Training Staff of the Year. 2023 NFL Scouting Combine results: Defensive linemen and linebackers. pic.twitter.com/VZ4LHDGcb7, Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) April 30, 2016. Hes been here north of 37 years, and every day, Mr. Bowlen started his day, by parking in the garage, coming up through the steps and stopping by Greeks office and chatting with him. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. The weather was awful. 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. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. I am an early person, and I learned years ago I need some time by myself before anyone gets here. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . 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More Videos A native of North Dakota and graduate of Kansas State, OHalloran previously covered the Washington Redskins for eight years, primarily at The Washington Times, and the Jacksonville Jaguars for six years at The Florida Times-Union. Running back could be a sneaky priority need for the Denver Broncos. 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. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. 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. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. 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). Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retires as Denver Broncos' head trainer 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. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. He closed the door and he went nuts again. It was dreary. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. 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. 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. A unique choice for a unique owner: Why the Bowlen family chose Steve You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. The Denver Broncos head trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos has retired from the NFL after 45 years with the team. It is still early in the process. Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis had this to say about Antonopulos during a phone interview with the Denver Post. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. Not a member? He embodies the principles of the Fain-Cain Award, and he continues to impact all of those who have been around him. Please logout and login again. 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. 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. Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. There are no set work hours for an athletic trainer in the NFL. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? 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. During John Elway's 16-year playing career and his decade leading the Broncos' front office, he was able to rely on Director of Sports Medicine Steve "Greek" Antonopulos for a lot. Learn how your comment data is processed. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. Steve Antonopulos has been the head trainer for the Broncos ever since. Steve Antonopulos, a.k.a. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. Denver Broncos news: Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 years 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. Although not given the recognition they so often deserve, NFL athletic trainers are some of the most important support staff members in any organization. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. Athletic trainers are witnesses to the magic and myth of extraordinary athletic feats. Connor McGovern had a hamstring problem. He served as the head football trainer at his alma mater in 2009 before becoming one of Greeks assistant trainers from 2010-13. Yet behind closed doors they respond to the ordinary, commonplace maladies of bruises, lacerations, soft tissue tears, and broken bones. "Greek" is in his 41st year with the #Broncos! 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. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. Athletic trainers with little to no experience make just above $30,000 each year, which, in regards to the amount of work and responsibility that athletic trainers have, may not seem like a lot of. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. Their bones, cartilage, and ligaments bear theburden of these familial expectations. 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. 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. Sleeting. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. 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. #NGWSD. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . Broncos athletic trainer Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos retiring after 45 However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . Russell Wilson's salary cap and dead money totals for the next six seasons. The Denver Post caught up with Steve Antonopulos, and during the interview, Antonopulos explained his reasoning behind his retirement. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. 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. Steve Antonopulos - Head Athletic Trainer - Denver Broncos - LinkedIn To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Steve Antonopulos - Head AT - Denver Broncos | ZoomInfo Greek does sustained hard work with players that benefits in indirect ways. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. 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.. Not only did the club pick up Gotsis in the draft, but the Broncos chose running back Devontae Booker, who recently had two surgical procedures on a torn meniscus. 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. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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. What a run. The Denver Broncos have leaned toward acquiring injured players during the offseason.Three of the top five draft picks had injuries that prevent them for full athletic participation in the rookie mini camp on May 6-8. Of . Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. In 2017, Antonopulos was promoted to the teams director of sports medicine, where he oversaw all aspects of the clubs training and rehabilitation process. 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. There is no verbal banter of windy platitudes to stoke quixotic fantasies of either management or players. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. Take a quick 30-second survey to help us deliver the best content around NFL & College Football. 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. 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. 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. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon. Manning has "lot of work to do" on neck, but Broncos know When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. In the days of the Orange Crush defense, Greek earned a customized can: . Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. Register now! Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. 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. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. 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 browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Greek was there to give head coach Mike Shanahan continual updates as he worked to treat TDs migraine. 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. 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. 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. Vince Garcia. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. preseason), 438 total wins, 13 head coaches, 983 players with at least one game appearance. Five hours later, John went through everything you could imagine and he ended up vomiting all over the place. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources.