| 100% | MADDEN | 6 | Flamboyant NFL broadcaster John who retired in 2009 |
| 42% | ELTON | 5 | “Tiny Dancer” singer John who retired from touring in 2023 |
| 39% | RHETT | 5 | ___ Ellison, former American football tight who retired in 2020 after playing eight seasons in NFL |
| 38% | PEYTONMANNING | 13 | NFL great who retired in 2016 after winning Super Bowl 50: 2 wds. |
| 36% | REXRYAN | 7 | NFL head coach who recruited 18-Across in 2009: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JUDELAW | 7 | Actor who plays John Watson in the 2009 film "Sherlock Holmes" (2 wds.) |
| 35% | SHAQ | 4 | Cager who retired in 2011 |
| 35% | BARBARA | 7 | Boxer who retired in 2017 |
| 35% | JETER | 5 | Yankee who retired in 2014 |
| 34% | OMAR | 4 | Shortstop Vizquel who retired in 2012 |
| 34% | USAINBOLT | 9 | Jamaican sprinter who retired in 2017 |
| 34% | VIN | 3 | Sportscaster Scully who retired in 2016 |
| 34% | ROMO | 4 | Quarterback Tony who retired in April |
| 34% | ELI | 3 | Quarterback Manning who retired in 2020 |
| 34% | BEN | 3 | Quarterback Roethlisberger who retired in January |
| 34% | LAILA | 5 | Boxer Ali who retired in 2007 |
| 34% | BLAKE | 5 | Quarterback Bortles who retired in 2022 |
| 34% | XXXX | 4 | Tennis star who retired in '24 |
| 34% | ANA | 3 | Tennis player Ivanovic who retired in 2016 |
| 34% | WEIR | 4 | Figure skater Johnny who retired in October |
| 34% | WADE | 4 | NBA star Dwyane who retired in April |
| 34% | ELI | 3 | Giants quarterback Manning who retired in January |
| 34% | AROD | 4 | Yankee who retired in 2016, lovingly: Hyph. |
| 34% | ASHE | 4 | Tennis great Arthur who retired in 1980 |
| 34% | AROD | 4 | Yankees shortstop who retired in 2016, familiarly |
| 34% | NADAL | 5 | Spanish tennis legend who retired in 2024 |
| 33% | BALE | 4 | Gareth ___, Welsh soccer player who retired in 2023 |
| 33% | BRADY | 5 | Tom ___, American football quarterback who retired in 2023 |
| 33% | BREYER | 6 | Supreme Court Justice Stephen who retired in 2022 |
| 33% | OHARA | 5 | John who wrote "Appointment in Samarra" |