- Jan 3 Allie Sherman, American NFL coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1953-56 CFL; New York Giants 1961–68), dies at 91
- Jan 4 Stu Miller, American MLB baseball pitcher, 1952-68 (St. Louis Cardinals; New York/San Francisco Giants, and 3 other teams, dies at 87
- Jan 4 Stuart Scott, American sports journalist (ESPN), dies of cancer at 49
Ernie Banks (1931-2015)
Jan 23 American Baseball HOF shortstop, 1st baseman (14 x MLB All Star; NL MVP 1958, 59; Chicago Cubs), dies of a heart attack at 83
- Jan 24 Toller Cranston, Canadian figure skater (Olympic bronze men's singles 1976; World C'ship bronze 1974) and painter, dies of a heart attack at 65
- Jan 25 Bill Monbouquette, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1960, 60², 62, 63; no-hitter 1962 Boston Red Sox), dies of myeloid leukemia at 78
- Jan 29 Kel Nagle, Australian golfer (British Open 1960), dies at 94
- Jan 31 Udo Lattek, German football striker (VfL Osnabrück) and coach (Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona), dies from Parkinson's disease and dementia at 80
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions