- Jan 2 Don Massengale, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1967 runner-up), dies of a heart attack at 69
- Jan 3 Earl Reibel, Canadian ice hockey forward Detroit Red Wings (b. 1930)
- Jan 4 Jan Schröder, Dutch cyclist (b. 1941)
- Jan 4 Sandro Salvadore, Italian footballer (b. 1939)
- Jan 6 Mario Danelo, American football player (b. 1985)
- Jan 7 Bobby Hamilton, American NASCAR driver and team owner, dies of cancer at 49
- Jan 8 Ken Cranston, English cricket all-rounder (8 Tests, 18 wickets, BB 4/12; Lancashire CCC), dies at 89
- Jan 9 Elmer Symons, South African motorcycle racer (b. 1977)
- Jan 13 Danny Oakes, racecar driver (b. 1911)
- Jan 15 David Vanole, American soccer player (b. 1963)
- Jan 16 Benny Parsons, American racecar driver and commentator (b. 1941)
- Jan 21 Maria Cioncan, Romanian athlete (b. 1977)
- Jan 26 Gump Worsley, Canadian ice hockey player, dies at 77
- Jan 27 Bing Devine, American baseball executive (GM St. Louis Cardinals 1957-64 [World Series 1964], NY Mets), dies at 90
- Jan 28 Carlo Clerici, Swiss road cyclist (Giro d'Italia 1954), dies at 77
- Jan 28 Yelena Romanova, Russian athlete (Olympic gold Unified Team 3,000m 1992), dies at 43
- Jan 29 Barbaro, American thoroughbred racehorse (b. 2003)
- Jan 30 Max Lanier, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1943-44; World Series 1942, 44; St. Louis Cardinals), dies at 91
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions