Jun 07, 2021 at 08:45 AM. 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. ", 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.". Professional football players endure incessant chronic pain in the playing days and beyond. 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 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. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and trainer Steve Antonopulos had a lifelong Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 1 draft pick, Report: Derek Carr wants $35 million per year, The Raiders are the betting favorites to land Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy: Kellen Moore wants to light the scoreboard up, I want to run the damn ball, Arrest warrant issued for Jalen Carter for reckless driving, racing, ESPN reiterates report that Lamar Jackson wants a fully-guaranteed deal, Aaron Rodgers says hell make a decision soon enough, Competition Committee begins to explore the quarterback push play, Players say Chiefs discourage them from reporting injuries, have NFLs worst training staff, Bryce Young is just over 5-10 and 204 pounds. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. I dont have an exact set deadline on when Im coming back. 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. Even before taking his first snap with the Broncos, he tore his left knees ACL in high school. He is the teams 12th man. 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. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is believed to be the longest ever spent with a single NFL team. The livelihood of their families depend on the high body performance. No other NFL trainer has treated a teams general manager, head coach, offensive coordinator and current roster of players. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? Greek also saidthat Elway was one of the best players at injury recovery. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. He had a fear of flying. He has been recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors seven times for his work. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. Trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos: Through The Years - Denver Broncos The 2023 NFL Combine is underway. When I committed to come back for this past season, I told John (Elway), This is it. Forty-five years is a long time. An MRI told us the stub from the bicep was not in the joint. Vince Garcia. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos is the Broncos' 12th man What is your favorite memory of the Broncos long-time head trainer? My philosophy was if you do your job and do a good job, theyll get to you. 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. Like Antonopulos, Garcia got his bachelors degree from Northern Colorado. The Denver Post caught up with Steve Antonopulos, and during the interview, Antonopulos explained his reasoning behind his retirement. The Drive was so special. 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. That poor guy. Here's a list of accomplishments that Steve Antonopulos earned with the Denver Broncos. Antonopulos, 72, whom most everyone with the team and in the league knows simply as "Greek," has been with the Broncos since 1976. 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. I was blessed to be a part of the elation of that. Jaguars won't spend big, but here are five players they could target in free agency, The most memorable pre-NFL draft workouts ever: Coaches, scouts, execs make their picks, 2023 NFL franchise tag tracker: Raiders tag Josh Jacobs, the NFL's rushing leader. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. He was to make $61.8 million after two years with the Colts,. "Steve Antonopulos is what the Denver Broncos are all about," John Elway aptly summed up on the Broncos' website. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. Broncos' sports medicine director retiring after 45 seasons - AP NEWS There is another player meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. Post practice treatments follow until we are done at approximately 6 p.m. On game day, Greek arrives very early as well. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. If you dont have passion, you are in the wrong field. 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. He told me after the fact he was going to take a half-hour (for the interview) and be on his way, Antonopulos said. He researched the previous seasons hamstring injury sustained by running back Otis Armstrong and put together a treatment/rehabilitation plan to present to Hurst. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. 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. Few peoplenoticed that Smyth also tweeted this on the first day of the NFL draft: https://broncoswire.usatoday.com/2016/08/17/steve-greek-antonopulos-is-the-broncos-12th-man/, Greek is nothing short of a consummate professional, reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway, 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. We just really hit it off and it was an opportunity that I had always dreamed about.. Scissors, tape remover, whirlpools, ultrasound gel, and treatment tables. Our organization wishes him the very best in his retirement. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. I never worked a day in my life because I loved what I was doing so much and the organization was so classy. Steve Antonopulos assists injured QB John Elway at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. on Sunday Jan.12, 1992. (Coach) Dan Reeves made the decision to have him drive to San Diego for the game. "the Greek" and considered by many of his peers as tops in his profession, has worked for coaches Red Miller, Dan Reeves, Wade Phillips and Mike Shanahan as the Bronco. Antonopulos called the honor breathtaking.. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! 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 was making good money on the highway and going to college. "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. It was embarrassing, the whole concept. Ill always be a Bronco.. The next, crippled. Steve 'Greek' Antonopulos to serve as Pat Bowlen's HOF presenter Please check your email for a confirmation. It wasnt really an injury. 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. 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. 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. 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. It is still early in the process. His Bronco days started in 1976. Counting players on training camp roster, Antonopulos treated more than 1,500 players. Steve Greek Antonopulos, head trainer for the Denver Broncos, has announced his retirement from the NFL after 45 years with the team. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/QngbUDNhEI. Jiminy Christmas, Im humbled; what an awesome thing, he said. Players are not treated as replaceable pieces of football productivity. Vince Garcia, Denvers head athletic trainer, will presumably be a strong candidate to replace Greek. ", Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 30, 2016. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. And he played the whole game. Listen, I really appreciate you calling me. Tonight, we celebrated head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos. Broncos to rename training room for Steve Antonopulos, honor him at a Broncos game. 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. @Grindin_59 never saw this happening: https://t.co/62EHR6aweP pic.twitter.com/2ns3HQOWc3. The Broncos will have a new person as the head of their training staff for the first time in a long time. Denver Broncos news: Steve "Greek" Antonopulos retires after 45 years It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Or does the salary serve as a salve to those wounds? I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. 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. 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.

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