- Jan 1 Art McNally, American Pro Football HOF referee and executive (NFL Head of Officiating, 1968-91), dies at 97
- Jan 1 Frank McGarvey, Scottish soccer forward (7 caps; Celtic, St Mirren) and manager (Queen of the South FC), dies from pancreatic cancer at 66
- Jan 2 Cliff Gustafson, American College Baseball HOF coach (College World Series 1975, 83; Collegiate Coach of the Year 1983; University of Texas, Austin), dies at 91
- Jan 2 Frank Cameron, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (19 Tests; 62 wickets; Otago CA), dies at 90
- Jan 2 Ken Block, American rally driver (Hoonigan Racing Division) and co-founder of DC Shoes, dies in a snowmobile accident at 55
- Jan 4 Hans Rebele, German soccer striker (2 caps; 1860 Munich, FC Wacker Innsbruck), dies at 79
- Jan 4 Rosi Mittermaier, German alpine skier (Olympic gold downhill/slalom 1976), dies at 72
- Jan 5 Ernesto Castano, Italian soccer defender (7 caps; Juventus 265 games), dies at 83
- Jan 5 Nate Colbert, American baseball first baseman (MLB All Star 1971, 72, 73; San Diego Padres, Houston Astros), dies at 76
- Jan 6 Bill Campbell, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star, AL saves leader 1977; AL Rolaids Relief Man Award 1976, 77; Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox), dies from cancer at 74
- Jan 6 Dick Savitt, American tennis player (Wimbledon, Australian C'ships 1951), dies at 95
- Jan 6 Gianluca Vialli, Italian soccer striker (59 caps; Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus, Chelsea), manager (Chelsea, Watford) and broadcaster (Sky Italia), dies from pancreatic cancer at 58
- Jan 7 Ken Scotland, Scottish rugby union full-back (27 Tests Scotland, 5 British & Irish Lions; Leicester Tigers RUFC, London Scottish FC), dies from cancer at 86
- Jan 7 Modeste M'bami, Cameroonian soccer midfielder (37 caps; CS Sedan, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille; Olympic gold 2000), dies from a heart attack at 40
- Jan 7 Rob Heming, Australian rugby union lock (21 Tests; NSW, Manly RUFC), dies at 90
- Jan 8 Roberto Dinamite, Brazilian soccer forward (38 caps; CR Vasco da Gama 753 games, 475 goals), dies of intestinal cancer at 68
- Jan 9 David Duckham, English rugby union outside back (36 Tests England, 3 British & Irish Lions; Coventry RFC), dies from a heart condition at 76
- Jan 9 Ferenc Mészáros, Hungarian soccer goalkeeper (29 caps; Vasas SC 252 games), dies at 72
- Jan 9 Max Chantal, French rugby league forward (27 Tests; US Villeneuve XIII), dies at 64
- Jan 9 Norma Whiteman. Australian cricket fast bowler (7 WTests, 22 wickets, BB 4/33; NSWCA), dies at 95
- Jan 9 Virginia Kraft Payson American sports journalist (Sports Illustrated) and thoroughbred owner & breeder, dies from Parkinson's disease at 92
- Jan 10 Bruce Murray, New Zealand cricket batsman (13 Tests, 5 x 50, HS 90; Wellington), dies at 82
- Jan 10 Gaudenzio Bernasconi, Italian soccer midfielder (6 caps; Sampdoria 334 games), dies at 90
- Jan 11 Charles White, American College Football Hall of Fame running back (Heisman Trophy 1979, USC; Pro Bowl 1987, Cleveland Browns, LA Rams), dies at 64
- Jan 12 Gerrie Coetzee, South African boxer (WBA heavyweight title 1983-84), dies from cancer at 67
- Jan 13 Klas Lestander, Swedish biathlete (Olympic gold 20k 1960), dies at 91
- Jan 15 Shaye Al-Nafisah, Saudi Arabian soccer forward (32 caps; Al-Kawkab FC), dies at 60
- Jan 16 Bjarne Hansen, Norwegian soccer centre-back (3 caps; Vålerenga FC), dies at 93
- Jan 16 Frank Thomas, American baseball outfielder (3 x MLB All-Star; Pittsburgh Pirates), dies at 93
- Jan 16 Pierre Danos, French rugby union halfback (17 Tests; RC Toulon, AS Béziers), dies at 93
- Jan 16 Vladislovas Česiūnas, Lithuanian sprint canoeist (Olympic gold USSR C-2 1000 1972; 4 x World C'ship gold), dies at 82
- Jan 17 Chris Ford, American basketball guard (NBA C'ship 1971 Detroit Pistons; Boston Celtics) and coach (Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers), dies from a heart attack at 74
- Jan 17 Jean-Claude Marty, French rugby league winger (13 Tests; FC Lézignan XIII, Racing Club Albi XIII), dies at 79
- Jan 18 Henry Caicedo, Colombian soccer centre-back (11 caps; Deportivo Cali FC), dies from a stroke at 71
- Jan 19 Norbert Sattler, Austrian slalom canoeist (World C'ship gold K-1 team 1971, K-1 1973; Olympic silver K-1 1972), dies at 71
- Jan 20 Sal Bando, American baseball third baseman (4 x MLB All-Star; World Series 1972, 73, 74 Oakland A's) and executive (GM Milwaukee Brewers 1991-99), dies of cancer at 78
- Jan 21 Bill Schonely, American sports broadcaster (Portland Trail Blazers 1970-98), dies at 93
- Jan 23 Fred Lindop, British rugby league referee (22 Tests; World Cup Final 1970; 5 x Challenge Cup Finals), dies at 84
- Jan 26 Billy Packer, American college basketball broadcaster (Raycom Sports, NBC, CBS), dies of kidney failure at 82
- Jan 26 Gary Peters, American baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 1964, 67; AL Rookie of the Year 1963; AL wins leader 1964; Chicago WS, Boston Red Sox), dies at 85
- Jan 26 Irvine Shillingford, West Indian cricket batsman (4 Tests, 1 x 100, HS 120; Combined Islands, Windward Islands), dies at 78
- Jan 26 Keith Thomson, New Zealand cricket batsman (2 Tests, 1 x 50; Canterbury) and field hockey centre-half (28 Tests; Canterbury), dies at 81
- Jan 28 Carlo Tavecchio, Italian sports executive (President Italian Football Federation 2014-17), dies at 79
- Jan 28 Phil Coles, Australian sports administrator (International Olympic Committee 1982-2011; AOC 1973-2011), dies at 91
- Jan 29 Krister Kristensson, Swedish soccer defender (38 caps; Malmö FF, Trelleborgs FF) and manager (Trelleborgs FF, Lunds BK, Höllvikens GIF), dies at 80
- Jan 30 Bobby Beathard, American Pro Football Hall of Fame executive (GM Washington Redskins Super Bowl 1982, 87; San Diego Chargers), dies from Alzheimer's disease at 86
Bobby Hull (1939-2023)
Jan 30 Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame left wing (Stanley Cup 1961 Chicago Black Hawks; 3 x Art Ross Trophy; 2 x Hart Memorial Trophy; Winnipeg Jets), dies at 84
- Jan 30 Charly Loubet, French soccer striker (35 caps; AS Cannes, OGC Nice, Marseille), dies at 77
- Jan 30 Gerald Mortag, German track cyclist (3 x World C'ship gold GDR 4000m team pursuit 1977, 78, 79; Olympic silver 1980), dies at 64
- Jan 31 Lou Campanelli, American basketball coach (James Madison University 1972-85; University of California, Berkeley 1986-93), dies at 84
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions