| 100% | REGGIE | 6 | ___ White, former NFL defensive end whose nickname was "The Minister of Defense" |
| 52% | WILLIAM | 7 | ___ Perry, former NFL defensive tackle whose nickname was "The Refrigerator" |
| 47% | MICHAELSTRAHAN | 14 | Former NFL defensive end who hosts the current revival of "The $100,000 Pyramid": 2 wds. |
| 42% | WILLANDERSONJR | 14 | Houston Texans defensive end who was the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: 3 wds. |
| 41% | BRUCESMITH | 10 | NFL defensive end who was the first overall draft pick in 1985 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | MYLESGARRETT | 12 | Cleveland Browns defensive end who was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year for the 2023 season (2 wds.) |
| 40% | BUBBASMITH | 10 | Former NFL defensive end who played Moses Hightower in the "Police Academy" films (2 wds.) |
| 38% | WILLIAMSON | 10 | Former NFL defensive back Fred ____, who was nicknamed "The Hammer" and has acted in films like "From Dusk till Dawn": 2 wds. |
| 37% | WALTER | 6 | ___ Payton, former NFL running back whose nickname was "Sweetness" in college |
| 36% | DIAMONDJIMBRADY | 15 | Early railroad tycoon whose nickname is a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 51- and 62-Across |
| 35% | PIERRETRUDEAU | 13 | Former prime minister of Canada whose first name is the capital of South Dakota: 2 wds. |
| 35% | ALA | 3 | State whose nickname is "the Heart of Dixie": Abbr. |
| 35% | MICAHPARSONS | 12 | Dallas Cowboys linebacker who was the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JLO | 3 | Nickname of the Bronx-born singer whose latest album is "A.K.A." |
| 35% | QUIDDITCH | 9 | Wizarding sport whose positions are the ends of the starred answers |
| 35% | SAUCEGARDNER | 12 | New York Jets cornerback who was the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: 2 wds. |
| 34% | HURT | 4 | The Big ___, nickname given to former baseballer Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox |
| 34% | ROBGRONKOWSKI | 13 | Former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end who was the White Tiger on season 3 of "The Masked Singer": 2 wds. |
| 34% | CHRISLONG | 9 | Philadelphia Eagles defensive end awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2018 (2 wds.) |
| 33% | PAUL | 4 | & 5D Former member of The Beatles whose debut solo album was released in 1970 |
| 33% | WALTERPAYTON | 12 | Former NFL player for the Chicago Bears, known as "Sweetness," who is considered one of the greatest RBs ever: 2 wds. |
| 33% | ELROY | 5 | ___ Hirsch, former NFL player whose nickname was "Crazylegs" |
| 33% | SUGARBEET | 9 | Plant of the amaranth family whose white root is cultivated for the sucrose it contains |
| 33% | FREY | 4 | House ___, former Great House of the Riverlands whose ancestral seat is known as the Twins |
| 33% | BUBBASMITH | 10 | Former NFL defensive end who played Moses Hightower in "Police Academy": 2 wds. |
| 33% | TERRYBRADSHAW | 13 | Former NFL quarterback, who has acted in films like "Failure to Launch" and is currently the co-host of "Fox NFL Sunday" |
| 33% | JULIUSPEPPERS | 13 | Defensive end for the Panthers, Bears, and Packers who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame tomorrow: 2 wds. |
| 33% | NAMATH | 6 | Joe ___, former NFL quarterback whose nickname was "Broadway Joe" |
| 33% | CHER | 4 | Singer/actress whose name can be found at the ends of 17-, 31-, and 43-Across |
| 32% | OPRAHSBOOKCLUB | 14 | TV segment whose first selection was "The Deep End of the Ocean" |