It took 17 months and 18 surgeries for Sean Karpf to recover from an IED explosion in Afghanistan back in 2012. Now the U.S. Army veteran is fighting a different battle every Sunday alongside some of the best athletes in the world.

Spectrum Sports 360 reporter Despina Barton has his story of service and resilience on this Veterans Day:

Working for the Jacksonville Jaguars is fast paced and demanding. It is a team-first environment and a place where Sean Karpf thrives.

Karpf is a strength and conditioning coach for the Jaguars. He spends a good chunk of his time directly working with players and charting their progress.

"My job is to just make sure the athletes get stronger in order to be effective on the field," Karpf explained.

Every week during the season brings pressure as the Jaguars make another push toward the playoffs. But it's nothing like the demands of his old job.

Karpf served as a Sergeant for the 82nd Airborne in the U.S. Army.

"I always knew I wanted to join the military," Karpf said. "So when I actually joined, I loved it."

Karpf said he loved jumping out of planes, going to combat and begin around  the guys. He reveled in the camaraderie and brotherhood knowing each member of his unit had the other's back.

His passion ran deep for his service. But six years in, his life changed during his second tour in Afghanistan.

In 2012, he stepped on a pressure plate IED. Karpf lost a portion of his left leg. It took 17 months and 18 surgeries for Karpf to recover from the explosion. He rehabbed at Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland.

He'd ultimately earn a purple heart in 2013 and was then medically discharged. After leaving the military, Karpf struggled to find purpose until he paired up with Wounded Warriors.

"Even though I am a strong person I don't know how it would have went," Karpf described. "With friends and family and Wounded Warrior, I was able to get back on my feet."

The program linked Karpf to the Jaguars. It was a dream come true for the 33 year old who grew up in Jacksonville rooting for the team.

He started in 2014 as an intern. This past January, the day after the Jaguars lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, he got a special call into the bosses' office.

"I came to clean out my locker and next thing I know Coach Coughlin and Dave Caldwell asked me if I would like to stay here. If I would make the team better?" Karpf recalled.

"I didn’t know how to answer at the time. 'Yeah, I’ll do everything I can to help this organization'."

Karpf finished his Kinesiology degree this offseason from Jacksonville University and has a created a second chance to make an impact.

"I go to the gate, you have your own code to punch in the gate, open the gate up and walk inside and it’s – I just love being here," Karpf said.

He's grateful to be here. It's easy to see it in his eyes. The veteran is becoming a fixture in the franchise and part of a brotherhood once again.

"When you are in combat and you are sleeping outside under the stars and getting shot at – there’s differences but at the same time there is a goal – you are trying to complete a mission when you are overseas," Karpf said.

"You have missions, you have orders and you follow them. Our mission right now is to win the super bowl so we have that to strive for, work for, practice, keep fighting everyday. I finally have that sense of purpose again being able to fight for something and feel like I am a part of a team again. Thats a huge thing for me."