| 100% | MADDEN | 6 | "___ NFL" (video game series named for Football Hall of Famer John) |
| 55% | ARCHIEMANNING | 13 | College Football Hall of Famer whose sons Peyton and Eli both won the NFL Man of the Year award named for 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 45% | LONG | 4 | Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fox NFL commentator Howie |
| 44% | TED | 3 | Football Hall of Famer ('90) ___ Hendricks, the first Guatemalan-born player in the NFL |
| 43% | LEM | 3 | ___ Barney, Pro Football Hall of Famer who played 11 seasons for the Detroit Lions |
| 43% | GENE | 4 | Pro Football Hall of Famer Upshaw who was executive director of the NFL Players Association |
| 43% | RICE | 4 | Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry who holds the record for most career touchdown receptions |
| 42% | UPSHAW | 6 | Pro Football Hall of Famer Gene who served as Executive Director of the NFL Players Association |
| 42% | SPAHN | 5 | Baseball Hall of Famer Warren for whom a pitching award is named |
| 41% | NEON | 4 | Nickname for Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders |
| 41% | CRIS | 4 | Pro Football Hall of Famer Carter who was the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 1999 |
| 41% | ERIC | 4 | Pro Football Hall of Famer Dickerson who holds the NFL's single-season rushing record (2,105 yards) |
| 40% | LEN | 3 | Football Hall of Famer Dawson |
| 40% | LAYNE | 5 | Football Hall of Famer Bobby |
| 40% | SAYERS | 6 | Football Hall of Famer Gale |
| 40% | CRIS | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Carter |
| 40% | THURMAN | 7 | Football Hall of Famer ___ Thomas |
| 40% | ERIC | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Dickerson |
| 40% | GINO | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Marchetti |
| 40% | SAPP | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Warren |
| 40% | ARNIE | 5 | Football Hall of Famer Herber |
| 40% | LEN | 3 | Football Hall of Famer ___ Dawson |
| 40% | BRETT | 5 | Football Hall of Famer Favre |
| 40% | DOAK | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Walker |
| 40% | NAGURSKI | 8 | Football Hall of Famer Bronko |
| 40% | DEACON | 6 | Football Hall of Famer Jones |
| 40% | SEAU | 4 | Football Hall of Famer Junior |
| 40% | NEWSOME | 7 | Football Hall of Famer Ozzie |
| 40% | MEL | 3 | Football Hall of Famer Blount |
| 40% | CHELIOS | 7 | ★Hockey Hall of Famer Chris who holds the record for most NHL games played by a defenseman |