| 100% | HARKNESS | 8 | Steve —, 1989-99 Liverpool FC defender who later played for Benfica |
| 37% | NOMO | 4 | Pitcher Hideo ___ who last played for Kansas City Royals in 2008 |
| 34% | ALOU | 4 | Moises ___, former MLB outfielder who last played for the New York Mets before retiring in 2009 |
| 29% | OSHEA | 5 | John —, 2001-18 Republic of Ireland defender who played over 200 league games for both Manchester United and Sunderland |
| 28% | BLISS | 5 | "Ignorance Is ___," 1989 song by punk rock band the Ramones who played their last concert in 1996 |
| 28% | MAGEE | 5 | Patrick —, Northern Irish actor for whom Samuel Beckett wrote the one-act play Krapp’s Last Tape |
| 27% | CAULKER | 7 | Steven —, Fenerbahce and Sierra Leone defender who formerly played for QPR and England |
| 26% | ILSA | 4 | One whom Sam played for |
| 26% | RICK | 4 | Guy whom Sam plays for |
| 26% | NASH | 4 | Former NBA star Steve who played for the Suns, Mavericks, and Lakers |
| 25% | TAPERECORD | 10 | Save for playing later |
| 25% | TOMMYJOHN | 9 | Pitcher who's known for his successful elbow surgery and played to age 46, in 1989: 2 wds. |
| 25% | LENNON | 6 | Whom Liverpool's airport is named for |
| 25% | NUNN | 4 | Late actor Bill who played Radio Raheem |
| 25% | ODOM | 4 | Lamar who once played for the Lakers |
| 25% | ORR | 3 | Bobby who once played for the Bruins |
| 25% | ARAB | 4 | For who ''Salaam'' is a last word |
| 25% | PASTOR | 6 | For whom ''amen'' is a last word |
| 25% | WYLE | 4 | Noah who played Steve Jobs |
| 25% | ASHTON | 6 | Kutcher who played Steve Jobs |
| 25% | ALDA | 4 | Last name of the actor who played Hawkeye |
| 25% | IBSEN | 5 | Whom Ingmar Bergman adapted for the play Nora |
| 25% | CHAU | 4 | Long who plays Steve on "PEN15" |
| 25% | SAUL | 4 | For whom David played the harp |
| 25% | HEMSWORTH | 9 | Chris who plays Thor for Marvel |
| 24% | ACTOR | 5 | One for whom work is play? |
| 24% | ACTOR | 5 | One for whom play means work |
| 24% | DOE | 3 | Last name for someone who prefers to remain anonymous |
| 24% | ASHTON | 6 | Kutcher who played Steve Jobs in "Jobs" |