- Jan 5 Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, Portuguese soccer striker (64 caps; top goalscorer-1966 FIFA World Cup; Benfica 301 games, 317 goals), dies from heart failure at 71
- Jan 5 Jerry Coleman, American MLB 2nd baseman, dies from complications from brain bleeding and surgery at 89
- Jan 12 Gyula Torok, Hungarian Olympic Champion Boxer, dies at 75
- Jan 13 Bobby Collins, Scottish soccer midfielder (31 caps; Celtic, Everton, Leeds), dies at 82
- Jan 19 Bert Williams MBE, English soccer goalkeeper (24 caps; Wolverhampton Wanderers 381 games), dies at 93
- Jan 19 Christopher Chataway, British middle and long-distance runner (world record 5k) and Conservative MP, dies at 82
- Jan 26 Tom Gola, American basketball player, dies at 81
Baseball Players
Basketball Stars
Boxers
Footballers
NFL Stars
Tennis Champions