- Jan 4 Tom Fears, American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end and coach (NFL champion 1951; First-team All-Pro, NFL receiving yards leader 1950; LA Rams), dies at 77
- Jan 8 Fritz Thiedemann, German equestrianist (b. 1918)
- Jan 11 Betty Archdale OBE, Anglo-Australian educationalist and English cricket batsman and captain (5 Tests), dies at 92
- Jan 11 Bob Lemon, American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (MLB All-Star 1948–54; World Series 1948; no-hitter 1948, White Sox; Cleveland Indians) and manager (KC Royals, Chicago White Sox; World Series NY Yankees 1978), dies at 79
- Jan 11 Phil Carrick, English cricketer (Yorkshire County Cricket Club), dies at 47
- Jan 12 Bobby Phills, American basketball player (b. 1969)
- Jan 22 E. W. Swanton, English author and sports commentator (cricket - BBC Radio), dies at 92
- Jan 26 Don Budge, American tennis player (6 Grand Slam singles titles, Grand Slam 1938), dies of cardiac arrest at 84
- Jan 27 Mae Faggs, American athlete (Olympic gold 4 x 100m 1952), dies from cancer at 67
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions