Marcus Caecilius Metellus was a son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus. He was deported after the defeat of Cannae, before Hannibal, in 216 BC, for having conspired with other officers to transfer themselves along with their troops to another place. Their commander, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, prevented this from taking place. Metellis was eventually rehabilitated, and reconducted to Rome, where he was elected Quaestor in 214 BC and Tribune of the Plebians in 213 BC. He was later made Aedile of the Plebians in 209 BC, Urban Praetor in 206 BC. In 205 BC he was sent as an Ambassador to the Court of Attalus I Soter.