The 2023 NFL Combine is underway. Will they play well again? Rainy. All three are full training camp participants. Steve Antonopulos gave the Denver Broncos 45 incredible years as their athletic trainer, having trained the likes of Peyton Manning and Shannon Sharpe, among others. The one other was (running back) Rob Lytle back in the day. The team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. 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.. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. 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. 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. I went and got a summer job on the state highway back home that summer and I was getting married. 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. Ill see you in the morning. And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. 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. 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. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. Discussing his knee rehabilitation, Gotsis at the time said. We always worked with Craig Hospital and the concussion experts and developed our protocols, which are similar to some that are used today. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. 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. ThenBroncos head team physician, Ted Schlegel M.D., said when presenting the award: Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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.. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. Their bones, cartilage, and ligaments bear theburden of these familial expectations. Longtime head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 years with the club, the team announced Monday. 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. Your login session has expired. The Denver Broncos hired Steve Antonopulos as their assistant trainer in 1976. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. Please logout and login again. 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. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. pic.twitter.com/N8K1CSmUdg, Kami Carmann (@KamiCarmann) August 4, 2016. 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. 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. We thought it would be (quick). 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. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. If they are working in an NFL medical facility it can be even more. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. It paid $25 a week plus room and board, he said with a laugh. His salary is around $10 million and his main source of income is from his career as a business executive. The weather was awful. 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. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. > Above video: Steve Antonopulos introduces Pat Bowlen at NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. 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. Forty-five years is a long time. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 13655 Broncos Parkway Englewood, CO 80112. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. 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. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. Over that time, Antonopulos worked all eight Super Bowls that the Broncos have appeared in. 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. He is believed to be the longest-tenured trainer with one team in NFL history, and Greek is the. It was dreary. Past and current players including Peyton Manning and Von Miller . 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. He served as President of PFATS from 2003 to 2008. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. That way, we are either working with them or doing administrative work. His 43 years with the Broncos is believed to be the longest tenure by an athletic trainer with one NFL team. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Their grandparents often move better in that instant. 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. 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 the job worth the derision? We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. Example video title will go here for this video. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. I always thought that might zing me one day.. 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. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. I was making good money on the highway and going to college. His motto was defend your desk. And the only way to defend your desk, Antonopulos would say, is to be at your desk. What will the Buffalo Bills do without defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier? Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Pat Bowlen's family has chosen Steve "Greek" Antonopulos to serve as the owner's presenter at the Hall of Fame . I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. Broncos director of sports medicine Steve Antonopulos has been selected by the family of owner Pat Bowlen to present him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. We thought it would be (quick). Antonopulos was the longest-tenured employee at the franchise. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. He is one of the richest baseball managers in Canada. 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. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Its just a cool place., Oh boy, a couple of those. In all he was on the sideline for 941 games (preseason, regular season and postseason) and worked for 13 different head coaches. 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? Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie quarterback in 1983 and spent well over two decades with the franchise himself, has joked that Antonopulos was with the Broncos before the orange and blue in the uniforms. We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. ", Broncos coach Vic Fangio said following Monday's OTA practice: "45 years of service to one organization is unheard of in the NFL, and that speaks volumes to his competency and the value he brought to this organization over such a long period of time.". He had a fear of flying. https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/08/denver-broncos-news-steve-greek-antonopulos-retires-as-trainer/, 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. Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. Or does the salary serve as a salve to those wounds? Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. At the moment, Im just completely thrilled to be a Denver Bronco and I cant wait to get up there. Learn how your comment data is processed. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. I love the energy required to survive in this game. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. 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. "No one cared more about the players than Greek," Broncos president/CEO Joe Ellis said in a statement. Broncos long time trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires, Horse Tracks: Potential Broncos Cap Casualties in 2023, 3 players the Broncos should consider cutting to make more cap room for the 2023 free agent class. They required him to go there for a physical. Although there are many female coaches in the NFL, athletic training and strength and conditioning were among the first positions to be filled by women. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Denver Broncos longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retired Monday after 45 years with the team. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . I always thought that might zing me one day.. I told him that, and he said. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. Sleeting. The Moving can be an exciting experience. (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.. At the moment it is week-by-week. He worked 941 total games, during which Denver went 438-311-1 in the regular season/playoffs. Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. 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.