- Jan 1 Roland Grip, Swedish soccer defender (55 caps; IFK Östersund, AIK, IK Sirius), born in Föllinge, Sweden (d. 2024)
- Jan 3 Malcolm Dick, New Zealand rugby union winger (15 caps) and administrator (New Zealand Rugby Union council 1986-92), born in Auckland, New Zealand
- Jan 5 Bob Cunis, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (20 Tests, 51 wickets, BB 6/76; Auckland, Northern Districts CA), born in Whangarei, New Zealand (d. 2008)
Chuck McKinley (1941-1986)
Jan 5 American tennis player (1963 Wimbledon), born in St. Louis, Missouri
- Jan 5 Mansur Ali Khan, Indian cricketer (Nawab of Pataudi, Indian batsman and capt), born in Bhopal, India (d. 2011)
- Jan 11 Gérson, Brazilian footballer
- Jan 13 Meinhard Nehmer, German DR, 2 man bobsledder (Olympic gold 1976)
- Jan 14 Gibby Gilbert, American golfer (Masters 1980 runner-up), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Jan 16 Christine Janes, British tennis player, born in Loughton, United Kingdom
- Jan 19 Pat Patterson, Canadian pro wrestler (WWE Hall of Fame; creator Royal Rumble), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2020)
- Jan 25 Buddy Baker, American auto racer (Daytona 500 1980; 19 x NASCAR Cup Series wins), born in Florence, South Carolina (d. 2015)
- Jan 26 Bill Burgess, American college football coach (Jacksonville State University 1985-96; NCAA Division II C'ship 1992), born in Birmingham, Alabama (d. 2023)
- Jan 26 Gary Moeller, American football coach (University of Michigan 1990-94; Uni of Illinois 1977-79; Detroit Lions), born in Lima, Ohio (d. 2022)
- Jan 28 Jacinto Santos, Portuguese soccer defender (5 caps; Benfica, Leixões, Porto), born in Matosinhos, Portugal (d. 2023)
- Jan 30 Tineke Lagerberg, Dutch swimmer, born in Bussum, Netherlands
- Jan 31 Len Chappell, American basketball forward (NBA All-Star 1964 NY Knicks; All-American 1962 Wake Forest Uni), born in Portage, Pennsylvania (d. 2018)
About January 1941
How Old? 83 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Leap Year: No
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions