- Dec 2 Michel Le Milinaire, French soccer coach (Laval 1968-92, Rennes 1993-96), dies at 92
- Dec 4 James L. Easton, American businessman, sports executive (President BRG Sports; President World Archery Federation 1989-2005; IOC member 1994-2023), dies at 88
- Dec 4 Marius Frattini, French rugby league halfback (6 Tests; Avignon, Cavaillon, Entraigues), dies at 82
- Dec 6 Tore Aleksandersen, Norwegian women's volleyball coach (Allianz MTV Stuttgart; Norway, Finland women's national teams), dies from prostate cancer at 55
- Dec 6 Vic Davalillo, Venezuelan baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1965, Gold Glove 1964 Cleveland Indians; World Series 1971, 73 Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 84
- Dec 7 Aleksandr Dronov, Russian Chess Grandmaster (3 x World Correspondence Champion), dies at 77
- Dec 8 Clyde Butts, West Indian cricket spin bowler (7 Tests, 10 wickets; Guyana), dies in a motor accident at 66
- Dec 8 Joe Solomon, West Indian cricket batsman (27 Tests, 1 x 100, 9 x 50, HS 100no; British Guiana, Berbice), dies at 93
- Dec 8 Paul Webb, American college basketball coach (Randolph–Macon College 1956-75, Old Dominion University 1975-85), dies at 94
- Dec 9 Frank Wycheck, American football tight end (Pro Bowl 1998, 99, 2000; Washington Redskins, Houston/Tennessee Oilers-Titans), dies after a fall at 52
- Dec 10 Syd Millar, Irish rugby union prop (37 Tests Ireland; 9 British & Irish Lions; Ballymena RFC, Ulster), coach (Ireland, B&I Lions 1974) and executive (IRFU President 1995-96), dies at 89
- Dec 11 Kenny Graham, American football safety (AFL All-Star 1965, 67, 68, 69 San Diego Chargers; Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers), dies at 82
- Dec 12 Kostas Nestoridis, Greek soccer forward (17 caps; Panionios FC, AEK Athens) and manager (Pandramaikos FC, AEK Athens), dies at 93
- Dec 13 Antonio Juliano, Italian soccer midfielder (13 caps; Napoli 394 games, Bologna), dies at 80
- Dec 13 Bill Burgess, American college football coach (Jacksonville State University 1985-96; NCAA Division II C'ship 1992), dies at 82
- Dec 13 Derek Stirling, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (6 Tests, 13 wickets; Central Districts, Wellington), dies of cancer at 62
- Dec 13 Des White, New Zealand rugby league fullback (21 Tests, 132 points; Ponsonby RLFC), dies at 96
- Dec 13 Paul Litjens, Dutch field hockey striker (177 caps, 268 goals; Champions Trophy 1981; top scorer Olympic Games 1976), dies at 76
- Dec 14 George McGinnis, American Basketball HOF power forward (ABA MVP 1975; 3 x ABA All-Star Indiana Pacers; 3 x NBA All-Star Philadelphia 76ers), dies of complications following cardiac arrest at 73
- Dec 16 Rolando Garbey, Cuban boxer (World C'ship gold light middleweight 1974; Olympic silver 1968, bronze 1976), dies of cardiac arrest at 76
- Dec 18 Abderrahim Ouakili, Moroccan soccer midfielder (11 caps; Mainz 05, 1860 Munich, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Karlsruher SC), dies at 53
- Dec 18 Brian Price, Welsh rugby union lock (32 Tests Wales, 4 British & Irish Lions; Newport RFC, Barbarians RFC), dies at 86
- Dec 19 Boro Jovanović, Croatian tennis player (Wimbledon doubles 1962 runner-up [Nikola Pilić]), dies at 84
- Dec 19 Ed Budde, American football guard (Pro Bowl 1970, 71; Super Bowl IV KC Chiefs; 5 × AFL All-Star; First-team All-AFL 1966, 69), dies at 83
- Dec 20 Torben Ulrich, Danish tennis player, musician, writer, filmmaker, and father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, dies at 95
- Dec 27 Herb Kohl, American businessman (Kohls department stores; Milwaukee Bucks, 1985-2014), politician (US Senator (D) from Wisconsin, 1989-2013), and philanthropist, dies at 88
- Dec 28 Bill McColl, American College Football Hall of Fame end (Stanford University; Chicago Bears 1952-59), dies at 93
- Dec 28 François Bracci, French soccer defender (18 caps; Olympique de Marseille, RC Strasbourg, FC Bordeaux), dies at 72
- Dec 28 Shaharuddin Abdullah, Malaysian soccer striker (70 caps, 39 goals; Penang FC, Penjara FC), dies at 75
- Dec 29 Gil de Ferran, Brazilian auto racer (Indianapolis 500 2003; Champ Car Series 2000, 01), dies from a heart attack at 56
Cale Yarborough (1939-2023)
Dec 31 American auto racer (NASCAR Cup Series 1976, 77, 78; Daytona 500 1968, 77, 83, 84), dies at 84 [1]
Baseball Players
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Boxers
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Tennis Champions