| 100% | WALTER | 6 | ___ Payton Man of the Year, annual award presented to a philanthropic NFL player |
| 42% | NIXON | 5 | Two-time Time Man of the Year (and a hint to 17-, 27-, 41- and 54-Across) |
| 41% | KURTWARNER | 10 | Arizona Cardinals quarterback awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2008 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | NBA | 3 | Org. with a Sixth Man of the Year Award |
| 40% | CHRISLONG | 9 | Philadelphia Eagles defensive end awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2018 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | ELIMANNING | 10 | New York Giants quarterback awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2016 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | DREWBREES | 9 | New Orleans Saints quarterback awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2006 (2 wds.) |
| 39% | DAKPRESCOTT | 11 | Dallas Cowboys quarterback who won the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award (2 wds.) |
| 39% | DAKPRESCOTT | 11 | Dallas Cowboys quarterback who won the 2022 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award: 2 wds. |
| 39% | NBA | 3 | Sports league with a Sixth Man of the Year Award: Abbr. |
| 39% | NBA | 3 | Sixth Man of the Year Award org. |
| 38% | NFL | 3 | Gp. that gives out the Walter Payton Man of the Year award (Abbr.) |
| 38% | ELI | 3 | ___ Manning named Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016 |
| 36% | ENERO | 5 | Start of the year, to a 63-Across |
| 36% | NEBULA | 6 | Annual award presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America |
| 36% | ELI | 3 | 2016 NFL Man of the Year winner Manning |
| 35% | ENERO | 5 | First month of the year, to many a 5-Down character |
| 35% | VINCELOMBARDI | 13 | Annual "Super Bowl" trophy named after a Green Bay Packers coach which is awarded to the NFL's championship-winning team: 2 wds. |
| 34% | ROSEPARADE | 10 | Annual New Year's Day spectacle ... and a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 36- and 49-Across |
| 34% | ASHE | 4 | Recipient of the inaugural A.T.P. Player of the Year award |
| 33% | COMMISSIONERS | 13 | ___ Trophy, prize presented to the winner of the annual MLB World Series |
| 33% | EDORGERON | 9 | 2019 SEC Coach of the Year who led the 48-Across to a national championship (2 wds.) |
| 33% | FINALIST | 8 | Player who makes it to the last round of a contest |
| 33% | LIBERTY | 7 | Statue of __, a present from France to the USA |
| 33% | THRASHER | 8 | Magazine with a "Skater of the Year" award |
| 32% | BESTOFFER | 9 | Hit man of the Year? |
| 32% | EJECT | 5 | Button to get the C.D. out of a player |
| 32% | LADYGAGA | 8 | Wore a dress made of meat to the MTV Awards |
| 32% | LUCK | 4 | 2018 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Andrew |
| 32% | ERIC | 4 | 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Berry |