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. "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. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. 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. 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. 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. Greek has four assistants and many intern athletic trainers. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. When the Broncos open training camp next month, Antonopulos wont be on the sidelines for the first time since 1975. Counting players on training camp roster, Steve Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. 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. Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. 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). It wasnt really an injury. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. After becoming head athletic trainer for the South Metro Fire Rescue in Centennial from 2014-15, Garcia rejoined the Broncos training staff as Antonopulos top assistant in 2016. "No one cared more about the players than Greek. Antonopulos graduated from the University of Northern Colorado. It was pretty much a no-brainer when somebody puts in that amount of time, Ellis said. "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run with the Denver Broncos. #NGWSD. 1. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. Gambling problem? 'Defend My Desk' How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. 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. I just think Pat trusted Greek more than any other employee he ever had working for him, Ellis said. 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. Steve Antonopulos - Head AT - Denver Broncos | ZoomInfo In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. They see their players physical and emotional fragility. With the Broncos, Greek transitioned to specialize in rehabilitation and was promoted to head trainer in 1980. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. Greeks retirement is effective immediately. Their athletic body movements express their identity. Odds & lines subject to change. He had the fingernail on his thumb totally torn off and was bleeding all over the place. He was obviously an astute trainer, but also an arrive-early, leave-late, stay-in-his-lane employee. He took a year off from football, resuming play without an ACL for the remainder of his career. Could they look to sign a veteran? He is also fully practicing. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Since the former Fort Hays head athletic trainer launched his NFL career, a lot has changed in the sport and in the world of athletic training, but Antonopulos' career had such remarkable longevity because he constantly worked to keep up with updating practices and help shape the evolving field. Enjoying Sportskeeda's coverage? Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Vince Garcia. Broncos' Athletic Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. I love being around young people who keep me young. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. It is their livelihood, and it hurts to see them be injured and not be able to perform. Broncos' longtime trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos promoted to 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. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The best thing is stay in your domain, stay at your desk and work your rear end off.. An interesting couple days and we had a great time.. Gotsis had yet to be treated by the man crucial to his draft selection and his successful knee rehabilitation, head athletic trainerSteve Antonopulos. 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. Elways competitive drive helped him work through the mental challenges of rehabilitation. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. His career with the team began in 1976 and spanned all eight of the teams Super Bowl appearances, 10 general managers, and three and a half team owners. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. 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.. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with Professional athletic trainers are required to be certified so that they can diagnose injuries and determine treatment plans for injuries. 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.. Steve Antonopulos is retiring from the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. Longtime Broncos athletic trainer, Director of Sports Medicine Steve Ill see you in the morning. And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. 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. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. Broncos' long time trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires 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. Celebrating 40 years of service On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to . Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. For me I want to be back early August, September, ready to go 100 percent, full go. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . Professional football players endure incessant chronic pain in the playing days and beyond. 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. It's an annual position that becomes even more demanding during training camp and the season. 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. pic.twitter.com/6YiWPEJddX, David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 8, 2016. Antonopulos spent 45 years with the Denver Broncos and was the athletic trainer to over 1,500 NFL players. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. The fans are incredible and it was the first of the modern stadiums in the old days. As one of six female athletic trainers in the @NFL, Allison Miner is living her dream. Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I woke him up. Denver Broncos laud retiring trainer Steve Antonopulos, 72, 'a fixture The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. It was dreary. Antonopulos treated 983 players who appeared in at least one regular season/playoff game for the Broncos. We thought it would be (quick). 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. That poor guy. A look at Steve "Greek" Antonopulos' 41 years as the Broncos' head athletic trainer. In all he was on the sideline for 941 games (preseason, regular season and postseason) and worked for 13 different head coaches. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 and retired in 2021 as the teams director of sports medicine. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. Manning has "lot of work to do" on neck, but Broncos know 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. We sincerely thank his wife Susan and the entire Antonopulos family for sharing Greek with us for so many years.. The longest-tenured employee in Denver Broncos history is hanging them up. Your login session has expired. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John [Elway], This is it.

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