- Jan 4 Giselle Salandy, Trinidad & Tobago female boxer (b. 1987)
- Jan 10 Sidney Wood Jr, American tennis player (Wimbledon 1931), dies at 97
- Jan 11 David Vine, British sports broadcaster (BBC Match of the Day, World Snooker C'ships, Olympics coverage), dies of a heart attack at 74
- Jan 16 Joe Erskine, American boxer and long distance runner (b. 1930)
- Jan 19 José Torres, Puerto Rican boxer (world light-heavyweight champion), dies of a heart attack at 72
- Jan 20 Dante Lavelli, American Pro Football HOF end (NFL C'ship 1950, 54, 55 Cleveland Browns; First-team All-Pro 1953; 3 × Pro Bowl), dies at 85
- Jan 21 Pat Crawford, Australian cricketer (Australian pace bowler 1956), dies at 75
- Jan 22 Billy Werber, American baseball third baseman (World Series 1940; AL stolen base leader 1934, 35, 37; Cincinnati Reds), dies at 100
- Jan 29 Bill Frindall, English cricket scorer and statistician (BBC, "the Bearded Wonder"), dies from Legionnaires' disease at 69
Ingemar Johansson (1932-2009)
Jan 30 Swedish heavyweight professional boxing champion of the world, dies at 76
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions