And these team doctors, for licensed medical doctors they are, can earn in the range of $200,000 and $512,500 per year. 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. * A guy we think can get better and better. I loved the job, loved the place and there would be only one position I would leave there for the Denver Broncos.. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. After treating nearly 1,000 different players during the past 45 years, Steve Greek Antonopulos has retired as Broncos trainer. pic.twitter.com/VZ4LHDGcb7, Patrick Smyth (@psmyth12) April 30, 2016. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. If you do not acknowledge the unique importance of Greek, then you chronically underestimate the Broncos. 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. And he played the whole game. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. Before the 2020 season, Steve told John Elway that the 2020-2021 season would be his final one as an athletic trainer. 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. 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. 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 certainly wouldnt have gone to Cheers had we known it would take that long. 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. 2 / 24. The award is given annually to a NFL trainer who best exemplifies a long-term commitment to the NFL, as well as exemplary performance. In this job, Ive always tried to give all I can as a father and grandfather, but its hard because your time is so confined, he said. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. On August 3, the Broncos organization came together to celebrate 40 years of service by Greek. "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. That was a tremendous victory in Broncos history. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. 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. He treated 983 players who've appeared in at least one playoff and regular-season game for the Denver Broncos. Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. 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. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Their athletic body movements express their identity. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. It wasnt really an injury. 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. Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Get to know all 17 Denver mayor candidates , Broncos trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos retires after 45 seasons with franchise, As Broncos wrap up stay at NFL Combine, busy offseason of change churns toward free agency, draft, Broncos check in No. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. 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. Of course, Greek does not do this single-handedly. The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. It wasnt really an injury. 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.. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. Greeks relationship with him was very personal he helped Pat on a lot of different matters, but he was very helpful giving Pat help throughout the season on where his team was at and it was an honest assessment at all times, which was important to Pat.. I thought I would be (at Fort Hays) my whole career, Antonopulos said. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Rainy. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. No one cared more about the players than Greek. Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. 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. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. April 12, 2017 at 10:38 a.m. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. 20 in NFLPA ranking of clubs based on locker rooms, food service, travel and more, Sean Payton very excited to have Vance Joseph as Broncos DC after four years in Arizona, Broncos HC Sean Payton hiring Northwestern assistant Lou Ayeni as RB coach, sources say, Brought to you by Prairie Mountain Publishing, Weld judge sentences Greeley man to 60 years for October 2020 murder, Fusco Pizza is a love letter to all things Greeley, Friday's Class 1A-3A regional/state hoops tournament roundup: Platte Valley girls begin quest for third consecutive title, Windsor girls switch to rarely used 2-3 zone en route to win over Mead in quarterfinals of 5A playoffs, Weld and Larimer counties retail food inspection reports, Greeley, Weld County Death Notices for March 3, 2023, Trial delayed for suspect in Investments of Windsor scam, Johnstown fisherman reels in the catch of a lifetime while traveling to Texas for son's junior hockey tournament, Weld RE-1 School District honored for commitment to nursing mothers on staff, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Athletic training is also one of the first NFL staff positions to be held by women. How did Antonopulos survive so many regime changes? He is the teams 12th man. After the 1980 season, he was elevated to head trainer and split his old salary in half to hire two assistants. 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. Found this classic can in hubs stuff. 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. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. The next, crippled. 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. Greeks relationship with him was very personal he helped Pat on a lot of different matters, but he was very helpful giving Pat help throughout the season on where his team was at and it was an honest assessment at all times, which was important to Pat.. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. ", 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.". Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. During his tenure, Antonopulos picked up the following accolades: NATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, The National Athletic Trainers Association Athletic Trainer Service Award and the NFL Athletic Training Staff of the Year Award. In Antonopulos second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. 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. I am an early person, and I learned years ago I need some time by myself before anyone gets here. Veteran free agentRussell Okung, the starting left tackle, was signed during the offseason while recovering from shoulder surgery. In Antonopulos' second season, the Broncos reached their first Super Bowl, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Matt Austin News Anchor, What Are Poseidon's Weaknesses, Mary Ellen Walton Actress Dies, Is Dean Robert Willis Married, Preston North End Stadium Expansion, Articles S