- Jan 5 Dragoslav Ĺ ekularac, Serbian footballer, dies at 81
- Jan 11 J. D. Gibbs, American auto racer, team owner (Joe Gibbs Racing), dies of degenerative neurological disease at 49
- Jan 12 Bob Kuechenberg, American football guard (6 x Pro Bowl; Super Bowl 1972, 73 Miami Dolphins; First-team All-Pro 1975, 78), dies of a heart attack at 71
Mel Stottlemyre (1941-2019)
Jan 13 American baseball pitcher (5 x MLB All Star; NY Yankees) and coach (5 x World Series; NY Mets, NY Yankees), dies of cancer at 77
- Jan 18 Glen Wood, American auto racer, team owner (Wood Bros Racing), dies at 93
- Jan 20 Mithra Wettimuny, Sri Lankan cricket batsman (2 Tests), dies at 67
- Jan 27 Peter Magowan, American businessman (CEO Safeway 1979-93) and sports executive (owner SF Giants 1993-2008), dies of liver cancer at 76
- Jan 29 Andy Hebenton, Canadian ice hockey right wing (record 630 consecutive games; NY Rangers, Boston Bruins), dies at 89