However, Anthopoulos served as an advance scout for the Greek National Baseball Team for the . Less than a decade after winning the Super Bowl MVP he had left knee replacement surgery. During the season, Antonopulos would often arrive at the facility around 4 a.m. and stay as late as required. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett spoke with media members on Friday for the first time since his arrest for public intoxication in late January. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. He was Bowlen's presenter when Bowlen was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019. 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. For a 2 p.m. start, he comes tothe stadium at 7:30 a.m. I use the time to work out and do administrative tasks. Steve Antonopulos, known as "Greek," has retired from his position as athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos after 45 years with the team. 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Antonopulos has been an athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos for a total of 941 games. Ryan OHalloran covered the Broncos for The Post from 2018-22 and has covered the NFL since 2004. We had to put him on injured reserve because he couldnt travel. What a run. He arrived most days at 4:30 a.m. and was often the last to leave team headquarters at night. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. pic.twitter.com/MB6he9cRUp, Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 4, 2016. Horse Tracks: Should the Broncos spend big money on a free agent running back. "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. Is hard reset only way to salvage Jets QB dilemma? "It didn't matter if they were a Hall of Famer or an undrafted rookie -- his standard never changed. Here are those results. The two went on to lead theteam in tackles lastseason. There are team physicians, such as head team physician Martin Boublik of Steadman Hawkins Clinic-Denver. The weather was awful. He worked under three owners and 10 head coaches and was a part of 22 playoff teams and three Super Bowl champions. 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. Marshall had several screws to hold together a foot while Travathan had major reconstruction surgery on his knee cap. I always thought that might zing me one day.. Anthopoulos successful career has earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy cars. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 . "We congratulate Greek and thank him for a truly remarkable, special run 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. pic.twitter.com/uwM5i7YAAm. 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. | . Denver Broncos trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos, who has served 45 years in the Broncos organization and was a part of the franchise's three Super Bowl victories, is retiring. Listen, I really appreciate you calling me. Steve Antonopulos announced his retirement on Monday. With unmatched dedication and loyalty to the Broncos, Greek became a trusted confidant for so many coaches, staff members and especially Pat Bowlen. 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 team announced the long-time athletic trainer's retirement on Monday. In all those years, I never tried to figure out how many hours I worked.. You'll now receive the top Broncos Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Your login session has expired. Sign up for the Broncos Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. We allowed the soft tissues to heal and put him on a strengthening program and he played in about 10 days. 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. The Broncos will name their training room after Antonopulos. My wife deserves this and we need to move on,' Antonopulos told Ryan OHalloran of the Denver Post. During his time as a trainer, the Denver Broncos posted a 438-311-1 record. Since it happened in 1978,reconstructive techniques were not available for Elway. Interior linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan had uncertain futures going into the 2015 season. 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. According to the organization, Antonopulos' 45-year tenure is. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. 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. Their athletic body movements express their identity. Antonopulos grew up in Hugo, Colo., 105 miles southeast of Mile High Stadium. "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. It was phenomenal. You are just minutes from Greenwood & Myers Mortuary is the first choice for many families when they are seeking funeral services in Boulder. Elway mentioned Greeks help in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2004. My wife deserves this and we need to move on, Antonopulos said in a phone interview Sunday with The Denver Post. 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. > Above video: Steve Antonopulos introduces Pat Bowlen at NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Ill have to say, back in the day, we always felt we were on the cusp of the concussion stuff. Trainer Antonopulos, a Broncos' 'fixture,' retires, The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? 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. We had a few of those guys, but he was to the hilt. Rick Massie was a receiver from Kentucky. Rainy. If youre doing something you love, you dont watch the clock or think about it, he said. It's spanned 900. View Steve Antonopulos's business profile as Head AT at Denver Broncos. 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. 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. Antonopulos called working for the Broncos a lifes dream., A lot of people say that, but it was the reality for me, he said. Were on the tarmac going to play San Diego. 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. 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. 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. ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA. Denver Broncos headlines, game previews and interviews with our 9NEWS insider Mike Klis. Broncos Athletic Trainer Steve Greek Antonopulos is retiring after 45 seasons with the team. We went a day early and went to see the Celtics play the Bulls. Championships are made on practice fields; championships are also made in training rooms and rehab gyms. 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. Antonopulos, 72, was a constant factor in the Broncos long run of success over the last 4+ decades treating and working with every single player Denver employed over those years. Steve Antonopulos Head Athletic Trainer at Denver Broncos Parker, Colorado, United States 7 connections Join to connect Denver Broncos University of Northern Colorado Report this profile. 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. The very best of medical practitioners effortlesslyblend sincere empathy and proficient treatment with their patients. Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak, who arrived to the Broncos as a rookie . The Broncos had never been to the playoffs and had just two winning seasons before Antonopulos arrived. Antonopulos joined the Broncos as assistant athletic trainer in 1976 and retired in 2021 as the teams director of sports medicine. 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. They see players near impossible athletic feats, creating the illusion of invincibility. * A guy we think can get better and better. He closed the door and he went nuts again. A good trainers room is filled with the mundane, bathed in the light of here-and-now reality. > Top stories curated daily just for you! More Videos 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. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes:http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n. I love the challenges that are presented each day. 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. 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. For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Greek watched over the knee helping to make it stronger than most, according to Matt Christopher in his book In the Huddlewith John Elway.