- Jan 1 Bob Anderson, English fencer & film fight choreographer (Lord of the Rings, Die Another Day), dies at 90
- Jan 1 Tommy Mont, American football quarterback (Washington Redskins) and coach (University of Maryland 1956-58, DePauw University 1959-76), dies of heart failure at 89
- Jan 3 Gene Bartow, American College Basketball Hall of Fame coach (US National Team 1974; Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA), dies of stomach cancer at 81
- Jan 5 Don Carter, American pro bowler (6 x Bowler of the Year; first athlete to earn $1m in single endorsement deal [Ebonite International]), dies from pneumonia and emphysema at 85
- Jan 9 Brian Curvis, British boxer and 1960 welterweight champion, dies from leukemia at 74
- Jan 17 Marty Springstead, American Major League baseball umpire and umpire supervisor, dies of a heart attack at 74
- Jan 22 Joe Paterno, American College Football HOF coach (Penn State 1966-2011; NCAA C'ship 1982, 86; Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of 1986), dies from lung cancer at 85
- Jan 26 Roberto Mières, Argentine auto racer (USAC Road Racing C'ship Daytona 1,000 km 1959; 17 x F1 GP), dies at 87
- Jan 29 François Migault, French auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1976 runner-up; 16 F1 GP), dies from cancer at 67
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions