- Jan 1 Dan Reeves, American football coach (AP NFL Coach of the Year 1993 NY Giants, 1998 Atlanta Falcons; Denver Broncos), dies from complications of dementia at 77
- Jan 2 Jens Jørgen Hansen, Danish soccer right back (40 caps; Esbjerg fB), dies at 82
- Jan 2 Larry Biitner, American MLB baseball outfielder, 1970-83 (Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and 2 other teams), dies of cancer at 75
- Jan 3 Kamel Lemoui, Algerian soccer defender (7 caps; AS Béziers Hérault) and manager (Algeria 1988-89), dies from COVID-19 at 82
- Jan 3 Viktor Saneyev, Georgian athlete (Olympics 3 x gold, Soviet Union, triple jump 1968, 72, 76; silver 1980), dies at 76
- Jan 4 Anatoliy Kuksov, Ukrainian soccer midfielder (8 caps USSR; FC Zorya Luhansk 489 games) and manager (Hirnyk Rovenky), dies at 72
- Jan 4 Javier Astúa, Costa Rican soccer forward (13 caps; Puntarenas FC), and manager (Puntarenas FC), dies at 53
- Jan 4 Kevin Kalkhoven, Australian auto racing team owner (KV Racing Technology, Indy 500 2013), co-owner Champ Car World Series, investor Cosworth Group Holdings Ltd, dies at 77
- Jan 4 Rolf-Dieter Amend, German canoeist (Olympic gold GDR C-2 slalom 1972), dies at 72
- Jan 4 Ross Browner, American College Football HOF defensive end (Notre Dame; Maxwell Award 1977; Cincinnati Bengals), dies from COVID-19 at 67
- Jan 5 Greg Robinson, American football coach (Syracuse University 2005-08; Super Bowl 1997, 98 DC Denver Broncos), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 70
- Jan 5 Olga Szabó-Orbán, Romanian fencer (World C'ship gold women's foil individual 1962, team 1969; Olympic silver individual 1956, bronze team 1968, 72), dies at 83
- Jan 5 Ralph Neely, American football offensive tackle (Super Bowl 1971, 77 Dallas Cowboys; Pro Bowl 1967, 69; All Pro 1966-69), dies at 78
- Jan 6 Bob Falkenburg, American tennis player (Wimbledon singles 1948, doubles, 1947; US Open doubles 1944), dies at 95
- Jan 8 Viktor Mazin, Russian weightlifter (Olympic gold USSR 60kg [5 x WR] 1980), dies at 67
- Jan 9 Bob Shearer, Australian golfer, course designer (4 x PGA Tour of Australia Order of Merit), dies from a heart attack at 73
- Jan 10 Alfred Gager, Austrian soccer midfielder (6 caps; Austria Wien, FC Wacker Wien), dies at 79
- Jan 10 Don Maynard, American Pro Football HOF wide receiver (Super Bowl 1969; First-team All-AFL 1968, 69; AFL All-Star 1965, 67–69; NY Titans/Jets), dies at 86
- Jan 11 Ahmet Çalık, Turkish soccer centre-back (8 caps; Gençlerbirliği, Galatasaray, Konyaspor), dies in a traffic accident at 27
- Jan 11 Anatoly Alyabyev, Russian biathlete (Olympic gold USSR 20km individual, 4 × 7.5km relay 1980), dies from COVID-19 at 70
- Jan 11 Don Sutherin, American Canadian Football HOF defensive back/placekicker (Grey Cup 1963, 65, 68, 69; Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Rough Riders), dies at 85
- Jan 11 Tim Rosaforte, American golf writer (Sports Illustrated, Golf Digest) and broadcaster (USA Network, Golf Channel), dies of Alzheimer's disease at 66
- Jan 12 Stjepan Lamza, Croatian soccer midfielder (7 caps Yugoslavia; GNK Dinamo Zagreb), dies at 81
- Jan 12 Taffy Thomas, Welsh thoroughbred jockey (Singapore Gold Cup 1977, Vernons Sprint Cup 1978, King's Stand Stakes 1983), dies at 76
- Jan 15 Ed Cheff, American College Baseball HOF coach (16 × NAIA World Series; Lewis–Clark State College 1977-2010), dies at 78
- Jan 15 Joe B. Hall, American Basketball HOF coach (NCAA Division I C'ship 1978; University of Kentucky 1972-85), dies at 93
- Jan 15 Ramazan Rragami, Albanian soccer midfielder (20 caps; KF Vllaznia) and manager (KF Vllaznia), dies at 77
- Jan 17 Kevin Flynn, Irish rugby union centre (22 caps; Leinster RFC), dies at 82
- Jan 18 Alberto Michelotti, Italian soccer referee (12 internationals; Serie A 1967-81; FIFA listed 1973-81), dies at 91
- Jan 18 Francisco Gento, Spanish soccer winger (Spain 43 caps, Real Madrid 427 games) and manager (Grenada FC), dies at 88
- Jan 18 Lusia Harris, American Basketball HOF center (AIAW C'ship & MVP 1975–77, Delta State University; Olympic silver 1976), dies at 66
- Jan 18 Ron Franklin, American sportscaster (ESPN 1987-2011; ESPN College Football Primetime), dies at 79
- Jan 19 Hans-Jürgen Dörner, German soccer defender (96 caps; Dynamo Dresden 400 games) and manager (Werder Bremen), dies at 70
- Jan 19 Nils Arne Eggen, Norwegian soccer defender (29 caps; Rosenborg, Vålerengen FC) and manager (Norway; Rosenborg), dies at 80
- Jan 20 Bob Goalby, American golfer (US Masters 1968), dies at 92
- Jan 20 Heidi Biebl, German alpine skier (Olympic gold women's downhill 1960), dies at 80
- Jan 21 Clark Gillies, Canadian Hockey HOF left wing (Stanley Cup 1980, 81, 82, 83 New York Islanders; Buffalo Sabres), dies of cancer at 67
- Jan 22 Antonio Fernández, Spanish soccer manager (CD Málaga), dies at 79
- Jan 22 António Lima Pereira, Portuguese soccer central defender (20 caps; FC Porto), dies at 69
- Jan 22 Gianni Di Marzio, Italian soccer manager (Napoli, Catania, Genoa, Lecce, Palermo FC), dies at 82
- Jan 22 Joe Yukica, American college football coach (University of New Hampshire, Boston College, Dartmouth College), dies at 90
- Jan 23 Keto Losaberidze, Georgian archer (Olympic gold USSR women's individual 1980; World C'ship gold team 1973, 81), dies at 72
- Jan 24 Aftab Baloch, Pakistan cricket batsman (2 Tests; 7th player to pass the 400 first class run milestone, 428 for Sind 1974), dies at 68
- Jan 24 Szilveszter Csollány, Hungarian gymnast (Olympic gold rings 2000, silver 1996; World C'ship gold rings 2002), dies from COVID-19 at 51
- Jan 25 Wim Jansen, Dutch soccer utility (65 caps; Feyenoord 415 games) and manager (SC Lokeren, Feyenoord, Celtic), dies from dementia at 75
- Jan 27 Charanjit Singh, Indian field hockey captain (Olympic gold 1964, silver 1960), dies from a heart attack at 90
- Jan 28 Guy Laporte, French rugby union fly-half (16 Tests, Grand Slam 1986; SC Rieumois, SC Graulhet), dies from a heart attack at 69
- Jan 29 Des Drummond, Jamaican rugby league winner (24 Tests Great Britain, 4 England; Leigh RLFC, Warrington RLFC), dies at 63
- Jan 29 Ralph Mellanby, Canadian sportscaster / television producer (EP Hockey Night in Canada 1966-85; 5 x Emmy Awards various Olympic Games), dies at 87
- Jan 29 Rashid Byramji, Indian thoroughbred trainer (3,170 winners/230 classics; Elusive Pimpernel 22/23 starts; Squanderer 18/19 starts; Indian Derby x 10), dies at 88
- Jan 31 Mike Nykoluk, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL's 1st full-time assistant coach - Philadelphia Flyers, 1972-78), and (head coach - Toronto Maple Leafs, 1980-84), dies at 87
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